THE WORLD VETERANS FEDERATION HELD ITS FIRST COUNCIL IN ASIA IN BANGKOK, THAILAND, BEGINNING MARCH 19.

THE THREE-DAY CONFERENCE WAS OPENED BY THE PREMIER OF THAILAND FIELD MARSHALL SARIT THANARAT AND WAS ATTENDED BY MR. VINCENT AURIEL ONE OF THE FOUNDERS OF THE FEDERATION AND FORMER PRESIDENT OF FRENCH REPUBLIC. THE CURRENT PRESIDENT OF THE FEDERATION W.CH. J. M. VAN LANSCHOT WAS ALSO PRESENT. DELEGATES FROM 48 COUNTRIES AND REPRESENTATIVES OF UNITED NATIONS AGENCIES ATTENDED THE CONFERENCE.

THE WORLD VETERANS FEDERATION IS COMPOSED OF 151 NATIONAL VETERANS ORGANIZATIONS IN 48 COUNTRIES AND HAS A TOTAL MEMBERSHIP OF 22 MILLION. IT WAS FOUNDED IN PARIS ON NOV. 27, 1950, WHERE ITS HEADQUARTERS IS. THE FEDERATION HAS A REGIONAL OFFICE FOR ASIA AND FAR EAST IN BANGKOK, AND HAS REGIONAL REPRESENTATIVE IN W. AFRICA.

THE FEDERATION AIMS "TO DEFEND THE MATERIAL AND SPIRITUAL INTEREST OF WAR VETERANS AND WAS VICTIMS AND TO SUPPORT POLICIES WHICH SERVE THE CAUSE OF WORLD PEACE BASED ON FREEDOM OF THE INDIVIDUAL AND INDEPENDENCE OF NATIONS".