CONFIDENTIAL
technical Malaysian case for favourable treatment was no doubt weak; politically it had a little more substance.
19. The Malaysians are sensitive but not unduly so. They have a special regard for us and have come to think that our understanding of and sympathy towards them have grown weaker since our military withdrawal. For the future we would do well in all our dealings to remember the words of Sir Frank Swettenham in his book "British Malaya", written in 1909: "When you take the Malay into your confidence, when you consult him on all questions affecting his country, you can carry him with you If, however, he is neglected and ignored, he will resent treatment to which he is not accustomed and which he is conscious is undeserved. If such a mistake were ever made (and the Malay is not a person who is always asserting himself, airing grievances and clamouring for rights), it would be found that the (Government) had . left him discontented, perhaps offended, and that would mean trouble and many years of effort to set matters right again." We are fortunate perhaps that we are now on course again after only a year.
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20. I am sending copies of this despatch to Her Majesty's Representatives at Singapore, Jakarta, Hong Kong (for Governor and British Civil Aviation Representative Far East), Bangkok, New Delhi, Manila, Canberra, Washington, Muscat, Bahrain and Abu Dhabi.
I have the honour to be Sir
Your obedient Servant
DONALD HAWLEY
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