§ Mr. Eldon Griffithsasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he is aware that there are legal obligations on the United Kingdom to defend the Aden Federation as set out in Articles I and III of the 1959 Treaty of Friendship and Protection and the similar articles and annexes of the Treaty of September, 1964; and what steps he is taking to fulfil them.
§ Mr. George ThomsonI am aware of the undertakings contained in the Treaty of Friendship and Protection between the United Kingdom and the Federation of South Arabia of 1959, and of the supplementary Treaty of January, 1963, both published in Cmnd. 2451 of September, 1964. We are fulfilling all our obliga-340W tions under these Treaties and shall continue to do so until South Arabia becomes independent, when they will be terminated since the terms of the Treaties are incompatible with independence.