4
Similarly, the activity of Trade Union is essential
if the itch for activity and the ambitions of the few are
not to be driven to anti-social outlets.
The declining number
of trade unions and their lower rate of activity is a sign of
weakness and not of strength in the government's position.
The Communists promise purposive activity towards ultimately
attainable ends and in the end the fruits of office
or the halo of public recognition of services, conmensurate
with their risk and initiative. We must promise no less and
prove the difference that the certainty of the prospects on
our side is based on fact as well as faith.
Government by its activities must prove its progressive
purposes and it must show itself a government which though
European in personnel is a Government of an Asian territory
developing an Asian future. But it remains a british colony
destined to stay within the British Commonwealth and the
stature of the government must therefore depend too on the
prestige of Britain in international policy, political behaviour
and social experiment. This both gives an example and gives
the satisfaction of association with a force far from spent. There must therefore be an emphasis on critish partnership
without any suggestion of subjection, and this requires that British policies, particularly foreign policies, should be
understood. And with a threat of international war not as
distant as we would comfortably like it to be, it is doubly
important that the Singapore people should understand the
international issues in which they will have to take the
British side, and accept conscription and active service as if
it were their own.
(b) The local activities of the Communists:
their violent and destructive nature; the contrast between their promises and the means they use:
their power-seeking ambitions and the form of
one-party,.