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The MCF issued the following press statement on 13th Mays The MCF emphatically rejects the Thorneycroft out-dated militarist view of "shoot first and argue later" in Southern Arabia. The shooting need not have occuned if there had been discussion first; discussion now could save lives; unless the aspirations of the people of Southern Arebia are met British forces will have to remain and further British lives will be lost. A political solution demands that democracy be established in the feudal South Arabian Federation and that self-determination be extended to the people of the Federation and Aden,
The first action should be to rélease Abdullah Al-Asnag, the voice of the people of Aden, now in prison, and to open negotiations with him for a settlement. The British Government is defying the historical process of our time by attempting to continue colonialist and military domination of Southern Arabia and Aden, Sooner or later we shall have to withdraw our military forces and bases. Better begin the adjustment now by agreement rather than resist the inevitable triumph of democracy and self-determination, UNION CRITICISM OF TORIES AND WILSON OVER SOUTHERN ARABIA
Not many organisations have met in the holiday season which has clapsed since Wilson made his statement supporting Tory, policy in Southern Arabia. However, two reports have reached us of trade dFBanisations responding angrily to Wilson's statement:
Rumsgate Trades Council has passed a resolution which it has sent to the Prime Minister and Harold Wilson. It demands the ieee sept withdrawal of British troops from Cyprus and Aden, and calls for an end t6°#8¥ce°the Arabs into the Southern Arabian Federation,
Tower Hamlets A.E.U. has passed unanimously a resolution protesting against the Labour Party leader's support of the Tory Party's adventures in Southern Arabia.