CO537-4999 — Page 139

ANNEX I

NOTE ON OTHER MATTERS DISCUSSED AT

VARIOUS POINTS EN ROUTE DURING THE MINISTER OF DEFENCE'S JOURNEY TO HONG KONG

Day 1

Day 2

June 2nd

Flight from Northolt to Fayid.

June 3rd

Flight from Fayid via Aden to Negombo, Ceylon.

Day 3

Day 4

June 4th in Ceylon.

The Prime Minister of Ceylon, the Hon. D. S. Senanayake,

together with the Parliamentary and Permanent Secretaries of the Ceylon Ministry of Defence and External Affairs, had a conference with the Minister at Negombo. From this it appeared that virtual stalemate had been reached in the defence discussions with Ceylon and later that day a formal letter from the Ceylon Government gave confirmation of the position. The Minister will be discussing the various issues involved with the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations and the Secretary of State for War immediately, in order that new proposals from the U. K. side may be made to the Ceylon Government. For this purpose Mr. E. P. Donaldson, the U. K. representative in the defence discussions with Ceylon, has been recalled to London.

June 5th in Singapore.

Accompanied by the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Air Marshal Lloyd, the Minister surveyed Singapore Island from the Air.

The Minister discussed with the G.0.C.-in-C., General Ritchie, the present course of operations against the Communists in the Malayan Federation and also the problem of the land defence of Singapore itself.

Later the Minister had an informal talk with the local Service

Commanders in Singapore.

Day 5

Days 6 - 8

June 6th

June 7th

Day 9

G

Flight from Singapore to Hong Kong.

June 10th

9th in Hong Kong

Back in Singapore.

The Minister discussed with the Governor the problem of Service labour relations in Singapore. There is apparently serious danger of a strike unless adequate machinery for negotiation of grievances can be established. The Minister undertook to discuss this problem as a matter of urgency with his colleagues and with the Secretary of State for the Colonies on his return to London.

June 11th At Negombo. Delayed by engine trouble.

Day 10

Day 11

June 12th

Day 12

-

Flight from Negombo via Riyan and Aden to Fayid.

June 13th The Minister paid a visit to the British Forces at Azaba,

Later he inspected typical married quarters in the Canal Zone and was given an impression of the conditions under which many married officers and other ranks in the Canal Zone are living.

/The