G.
LABOUR.
H
I.
J.
~3~
This matter is already under consideration.
Warfare
ECONOMIC ELFARE.
1. Have you any suggestions to make in regard to the above subject.
2. In case of war, would you favour the setting up of a Regional Branch Office of the Ministry of Economic Warfare at Singapore or elsewhere in the Far East?
3. If so, would it be desirable and possible to provide a portion of the staff for such a Branch from commercial and official circles in the various territories?
FINANCE.
Have you any comments on the finance arrangements of the last war?
1.
2.
Can you quote examples of any difficulties which arose so far as they affected the local civil Governments or the local civilian population, e.g. delays in prompt payment or reimbursement to local governments for requisitioned goods and materials?
3.
Was there any lack of clear policy decisions in regard to incidence of cost as between the United Kingdom Government and local Governments for war expenditure, e.g. was the cost of locally raised Regular and Volunteer Forces taken over by the United Kingdom Government as part of the general cost of the prosecution of the war?
4. Would it be any advantage, in the light of past experience, to set up a Committee comprising local government finance officials and Service finance authorities to explore the problem and to formulate principles for submission to higher authority in London?
FORM OF GOVERNMENT
It would not appear that any observations under this heading are required from the Governments of Hong Kong, Sarawak and North Borneo, but the Governments of the Federation of Malaya and Singapore may wish to make some comments in view of the Constitutional changes which have taken place since the liberation of Malaya. It is suggested that those Governments may wish to consider inter alia the following questions:-
(1)
Have the Governments any views on the method of co-ordinating the war effort as between Singapore and the Federation, e.g. Joint War Council.
(11) In the event of active operations, would it
present any advantage to the Civil Governments if the military higher command were framed on the basis of a fighting commander in charge of operations and a separate military commander for the base and L. of C. areas.
/(iii)