PRESIDENT SENGHOR AND SIR DAWDA JAWARA SIGNING DOCUMENT, AND SHAKING HANDS; THE TWO LEADERS ADDRESSING OFFICIALS; SENGHOR AND SIR DAWDA SPEAKING AT ANOTHER FUNCTION.




Initials RM/V/JH/JG



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Background: PRESIDENT LEOPOLD SENGHOR OF SENEGAL COMPLETED A THREE-DAY STATE VISIT TO GAMBIA ON THURSDAY. DURING THE VISIT HE JOINED THE GAMBIAN PRIME MINISTER, SIR DAWDA JAWARA, IN SIGNING A TREATY OF ASSOCIATION AIMED AT STRENGTHENING CO-OPERATION BETWEEN THEIR TWO COUNTRIES.

EARLIER, PRESIDENT SENGHOR TOLD OFFICIALS IN BATHURST, THE GAMBIAN CAPITAL, THAT THERE WAS NO ROOM IN THE 20TH CENTURY FOR SUCH TINY STATES AS SENEGAL AND GAMBIA. THE FUTURE WOULD ONLY BE PROFITABLE FOR LARGER GROUPS. BUT THE PRESIDENT WARNED AGAINST ???ASTY AND SPECTACULAR SOLUTIONS WHICH HAD TOO OFTEN PROVED TO BE SOURCES OF GRAVE MISUNDERSTANDING BECAUSE THEY DID NOT HAVE THE SUPPORT OF THE PEOPLE.

PRESIDENT SENGHOR SAID SENEGAL AND GAMBIA SHOULD PROCEED FORWARD CONFIDENT IN THEIR "SENEGAMBIAN" DESTINY. SPEAKING IN ENGLISH, THE NORMALLY FRENCH-SPEAKING PRESIDENT SAID THAT THE ECONOMIC ADVANTAGES OF THE LARGER GROUPINGS INCLUDED THE ABILITY TO FIGHT AGAINST THE GREATEST DANGER THAT THREATENS UNDERDEVELOPED COUNTRIES -- THE ??? OF THE TERMS OF TRADE.

SIR DAWDA JAWARA SAID OF THE TREATY OF ASSOCIATION: "WE HOPE THIS MEANS TO PROVIDE FOR TAKING A STAGE FURTHER THE FRIENDLY RELATIONS AND FRUITFUL CO-OPERATION BETWEEN OUR COUNTRIES."