CO537-4835 — Page 201

INWARD TELEGRAM

TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES

one side or other, and they know also that methods of attack will be thoroughly unscrupulous and effective. From the top to the bottom "protection" is the key note of the lives of all Chinese. Their complete cooperation with and loyalty to the Malayan Governments will not be forthcoming unless that protection is provided by Government authority",

2.

:

At the present time political parties in China are in the melting pot; Chinese communist party have not yet finally won the fight. The Kuomintang are at a low ebb, and other parties such as China Democratic League have not yet recovered their full strength. It is therefore considered that this would be an opportune moment to restrict the activities of such bodies. But if action is to be taken it must be taken quickly before a Communist victory or formation of a coalition Government an China under Communist dominance.

За

At the present time Kuomintang and China Democratic League are foreign political parties excluded from operation by Societies Ordinance under paragraph 2 F. That amendment was introduced when Societies Ordinance was resuscitated in the face of considerable opposition, and these parties were therefore amongst those excluded because it was not possible in the circumstances obtaining at that time to differentiate between genuine Malayan political parties (to whom it was desired to give greatest possible freedom of association) and foreign or foreign sponsored organisations operating in the Colony. The

The position with banning of M.C.P. is very different now. proposed action would be on the lines of Lampson Wang agreement in 1931 whereby arganisation of branches of Kuomintang in Malaya was prohibited but individual membership of the party in China was allowed; the Societies Ordinance was amended in 1931 to cover

this.

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It would be sufficient by decision of the Governor in Council followed by Gazette notification to cancel names of foreign political bodies from list of those excluded under paragraph 2 F of Ordinance. They would then come under provisions of Societies Ordinance and might be refused registration as prejudicial to enjoyment of peace or welfare or to good order in the Colony. Certain Indonesian political organisations have registered under Ordinance and they could also be dealt with in the same way. Although, in Singapore the emphasis must fall on Chinese parties it is important that ban should be enforced indiscriminately against all foreign political organisations.

5.

I propose to sound my Executive Council preliminarily when it next meets on 25th February but in the meantime that in view of great importance and urgency of the matter I must let you know in advance considerations I propose to put before them.

6.

If action I propose is to be taken it would be clearly supposed necessary for parallel action to be taken in the Federation although developments would be different thare. I am therefore Bending a copy of this telegram to High Commissioner with whom I propose to discuss matter when we meet in conference on 22nd February.

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I am of course also sending a copy to Co.missioner General with whom I have not yet had an opportunity of discussing my proposals in detail, I shall not act except in closest consultation with him.

B/