ARMS FOR AFRICA

Press, Volume C, Issue 29474, 28 March 1961, Page 15

ARMS FOR AFRICA

“U.S. Should Limit Aid” WASHINGTON, March 27 The United States should restrict to a minimum any military aid to African nations, the Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs. Mr Mennen Williams. said last night. The United States State Department was now considering two types of military aid for the newlv-emerging countries, he said during a television interview. They were aid limited to defensive and light weapons, and aid provided under “some kind of all-African arms limitation.” However, he said, any limitation on arms would have to be done in agreement with the African nations and with great Powers that might be supplying weanons.

Mr Williams, who was being interviewed on his recent 24.000-mile tour of Africa, reaffirmed his earlier statements urging the United States to increase economic aid to Africa. He pointed out that Britain and France were giving Africa about three times as much aid as the United States, and said: “We must work with them and some other West European countries to do the job that must be done” He expressed confidence that the Congo ultimatelv could be economically self'ufficient and politically stable But he warned that the dividing influence of tribal government presented a "challenge greater than any of us can reasonably contemplate."