Air Vice Marshal
Sir P. Maltby.
age.
Para.
60
632 33
}
12.
PUBLIC RELATIONS.
"A belief was widely held that Singapore Defences were in reasonably good order, and
that war was not imminent in any case. More than one official pronouncement on the subject had the unintentional effect of fostering a false sense of security and of supporting the view that business output came first, despite other official pronouncements which were made with that express object of combatting complacency. The former pronouncements were made with very good reasons. But they must be mentioned because of their effect on civilians and service personnel alike.. The General atmosphere..
had a grave
·
effect upon preparations for war.
Two lessons were learned :
Firstly the most rastic and comprehensive measures are necessary to shake up a community which has long live in peace into a realisation of the dangers of war and of the need to take timely action to prepare for it. This is particularly true if a community is of such a complex political and economic structure as that which existed in Malaya.
Secondly the success of the fighting services is largely dependent upon the wholeheartel, thoroughly organised and, where necessary, trained support of the civil c^mmunity. !!