CO537-6578 — Page 31

NU 53.

RER 96584/42

CONFIDENTIAL

2

EFFECTIVENESS OF U.S.I.S.WORK IN SINGAPORE

4453

96575/33.

The work of U.S.I.S. in Singapore began in 1946. It

had two years of quiet and unobstrusive and effective work

before it was closed down as a result of Congressional cuts on U.S.I.S. expenditure. The decision to re-open was taken in late 1948, and Mr. Henry Lawrence was sent out to start U.S.I.S work again. He arrived in March 1949 with his own energy and the apparently unlimited funds at his disposal, he has built up a U.S.I.S. organisation much stronger than its previous

incarnation.

2.

In Singapore, they have their centre in Raffles Place, a very advantageous central position. There are the library and film theatre, offices and stores. The library is free and is open for 12 hours each day and a special bus service has been arranged to take people to suburban areas after the 11brary closes in the evening. The library is popular: 1t is well laid out: the books and magazines are well selected and many of them have only been able to pass the exchange controls for this purpose. The shelves are empty because of the heavy demand for these books.

They have a big libraries of

films and gramophone recorde, from which the public can borrow. Their Transcription service material is used by the Department of Broadcasting. Daily they issue a Press Bulletin of U.S. policy statements on Asia, and news items of interest to Asia. This is supplemented by periodical news summaries and economic bulletins and a weekly magazine, 'Americana'. This material is circulated now in Chinese and Tamil.

They are supplying an increasing number of books on

America

to official organisations and libraries. They issue booklets in English and Chinese; and are now planning the printing of Chinese books in Singapore. Malay publications too are being planned. The making of local versions of U.S.I.S. films and not merely vernacular-dubbed U.S. films is being actively discussed.

An increasing