Subject: File #S7-18-96 
Date:    5/4/97 4:09 AM
     
     
21 Ave. Brg. Herinckx, box 27
B-1180 Bruxelles,  Belgium
tel: 011-32-2-343-12-89 (no recorder) 
fax: 011-32-2-343-12-89 (from USA)
e-mail: CompuServe 102715,3512
     
Date:           4 May 1997
Subject:      File #S7-18-96
To:               Jonathan G. Katz, Secretary
                     Securities and Exchange Commission
                     450 5th Street, N.W.   
                     Washington, DC  20549-6009
     
Please do what you can to have the new streamlined prospectuses approved and 
aviable to the public as soon as possible.
Thanks in advance for your help and keep up the good work.
     
     
Vincent R. van der Straeten, CLU, ChFC 
Lt Col , AUS, Retired
     
Personal address:
     
             V. R. VAN DER STRAETEN
             NSA PSC 79 BOX 1643
              APO, AE 09724 6B