0003160 CF. 316
(e)
SECRET
5 -
Any relaxation of conscious effort will both encourage
the communists and enable them to recoup and reorganise
for greater efforts.
Action against the communist press would almost certainly
produce a reaction from China and the local communis ts.
Taking the previous closure as a yardstick one would
expect a very strong reaction from both these factions
and it is debatable whether the number of newspapers closed
would be related to the type or size of reaction encountered.
7。
CONCLUSIONS
Few would argue against the desirability of taking action against
This paper attempts to assess whether it is essential to
The following points seem relevant :
the communist press.
take such action now.
(a)
(b)
C
The communist press only has an influence over a decreasing
proportion of the population.
The main threat to the Colony at the moment comes from
the hard core indoctrinated communists and hooligans who
will presumably carry on with their activities with or
without the inspiration of the communist press.
(c)
The advantages of taking action might quickey be outweighed
by a worsening of the situation brought about as a direct
result of that action.
(a)
on 24:10.67 Special Branch assessed that
1
it would not be timely to proceed with court action
against any of the Communist newspapers, unless the
Government wished to seek the initiative. The current
factors which led them to reach the conclusions are
equally applicable on 16th November.
SECRET