Page 361 - UAE Truncal States

Chapter Nine

The Formation of the
Federation

1 British withdrawal

The Labour Government’s economic measures
The event which redirected the course of history in IheTrucial States
and led to the creation of the UAE was a result of totally unrelated
events taking place in British domestic politics. The rank and file of
the British Labour Party had for several years been very critical of the
annual increase in defence spending. The Labour Government under
Mr Harold Wilson therefore undertook to reduce this item of
expenditure, and in a White Paper published on 16 February 1967
further cuts were envisaged. One of the central features of this policy
was to liquidate almost all British military bases east of Suez,
withdrawing tens of thousands of men and their families. Part of this
plan was the withdrawal of all British troops from South Arabia by
1968, when Aden and the protectorates were to form an independent
federation. Yet this White Paper did provide for “generous financial
assistance” to strengthen the South Arabian federal forces; arrange­
ments had been made, and “practical preparations were under way
for the small increase in forces stationed in the Persian Gulf which
would be needed by Britain to fulfil her remaining obligations in the
area after leaving Aden."1 However, the parliamentary debate on
defence made it clear that even this drastic change of Britain’s role in
the world did not satisfy a large number of Labour MPs, who were
determined to speed up the withdrawal. Thus it was also taken for
granted that the number of troops in the Persian Gulf would be
decreased,2 and by May 1967 the Government was seriously
considering withdrawal from the Gulf States as well as from Aden.
This intention was strongly criticised by the late King Faisal of Saudi
Arabia during a visit to London in mid-May.3

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