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before 1941. One cannot shut one's eyes to the fact that we
suffered defeat in battle at the hands of orientals, and it came
to me as something of a shock to learn how prevalent still is the
idea that this might well occur again.
It is of course true that we inflicted most smashing defeats
on our oponents there in the end, but at least amongst the vast
majority of the peoples of China, and in the countries of South-
East Asia, we were not seen actually fighting victorious battles.
In China, French Indo China, Thailand and Malaya our re-occupation
was to all intents and purposes unopposed. One finds all sorts of
excuses conjured up in the Oriental mind to excuse the overthrow
of the Japanese. Not least, naturally, is our use of the atom
bomb on Japan itself. In Malaya with the cessation of hostilities
the Communist underground movement, which we had sponsored, at once
claimed that they alone were responsible for the Japanese defeat;
a story which was believed by a lot of people who knew no better
Personally I doubt that we have done all we might to publicise the true facts. Again, I would say that if we really are to impress in the Far East then we must be firm and we must show strength. Talk does not impress itself on the Oriental mentality. impress one must provide visible signs of power.
To
This is essential
if confidence is to be restored in the ability of the Western Powers to protect their own interests, the interests of local peoples and do what they say they are going to do: that is to halt the surge of Communism into South-East Asia.
7. THE MAIN MILITARY PROBLEMS
Against this background I will now deal with certain of the
First, HONG KONG;
current Military problems in the Far East. then MALAYA; after which I will touch very briefly on FRENCH INDO CHINA, THAILAND and BURMA. I will leave INDONESIA because the movement there is really nationalist and at least for the moment
/the