- 2
the current policy of His Majesty's Government and to
describe British aims and methods; they must also be prepared to advocate the basic principles which distinguish the democratic from the Communist or other authoritarian
countries.
3.
Among the special difficulties which information
services in this area have to overcome are:
4.
(i) The feeling common to all countries of the
area that the Western Powers have not
abandoned their imperialist aims and are
still seeking to exert control over small
independent Asian countries.
Despite the
existence in the area of British Colonial
dependencies, this feeling is modified, in
our case, by British post-war policy towards
the Asian countries of the Commonwealth. (ii) A reluctance to collaborate too openly with
the West lest this should lead to them being dragged into a war: hence a desire to remain
neutral in a world conflict or failing that to be on the winning side; there is some
uncertainty as to which side it is likely
to be.
(iii) Resentment at the higher standard of living
enjoyed by Westerners in South East Asia.
Many of the leaders of opinion in those countries are aware of their ignorance of administrative techniques and are willing to learn from us, provided they can do so without appearing to compromise their independence. Information policy in South East Asia should therefore devote particular attention to providing information and services of direct use to these peoples. It should be made plain that we wish to help them, and not to impose our way of life on them.
/5.......