SECRET
NOTE BY COLONIAL OFFICE AND FOREIGN OFFICE
MALAYA
Attitude to be adopted in publicity towards
Communism in Malaya and China
Communist successes in China have in some measure
instilled into the Chinese in Malaya, as in other Overseas
Chinese Communities, a feeling of pride in the achievements
of the Communist Armies and a tendency even among non-Communist
Chinese to look towards the Peking Government as their leader
and protector. Recognition of a Communist Government in China
by His Majesty's Government has confirmed this attitude.
However, the initial impact of H.M.G.'s recognition
2.
of the Peking regime as the Government of China has now been
somewhat absorbed.
3.
The following paragraphs are designed to give guidance
within which publicity may be put out through channels
traceable to British official sources. It has been agreed
that it is no longer necessary to avoid making clear publicly
the connection between the Malayan Terrorist Movement and
Communism as an internationally organized and centrally
controlled force. This raises several questions of policy and
also of tactics.
4.
It is extremely improbable that a connection between
the Communist Terrorist Movement in Malaya and the Peking
Government would, even if it existed, be admitted. Prima facie
the Malayan Communist Party as a separately constituted party
reports direct to Moscow and receives its direction from the
Communist Party of the Soviet Union: it is plain that, as a
predominantly Chinese party, it must be strongly influenced by Peking, and perhaps receives aid via Peking; but a revelation
/that