CO537-6578 — Page 67

SECRET.

NOTE BY COLONIAL OFFICE AND FOREIGN OFFICE

MALAYA

Attitude to be adopted in publicity towards

Communism in Malaya and China

Communist successes in China have in some measure

instilled into the Chinese in Malaya, as in other Overseas Chinese Communities, a feeling of pride in the achievements

of the Communist Armies and a tendency even among non-Communist Chinese to look towards the Peking Government as their leader and protector. Recognition of a Communist Government in China

by His Majesty's Government has confirmed this attitude. However, the initial impact of H.H.G.'s recognition

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of the Peking regime as the Government of China has now been somewhat absorbed.

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The following paragraphs are designed to give guidance within which publicity may be put out through channels traceable to British official sources. It has been agreed that it is no longer necessary to avoid making clear publicly the connection between the Malayan Terrorist Movement aud Communism as an internationally organized and centrally controlled force. This raises several questions of policy and also of tactics.

4. It is extremely improbable that a connection between the Communs at Terrorist Movement in Malaya and the Peking Government would, even if it existed, be admitted. Prima facie the Malayan Communist Party as a separately constitutod party reports direct to Moscow and receives its direction from the Communist Party of the Soviet Union: it is plain that, as a predominantly Chinese party, it must be strongly influenced

by Peking, and perhaps receives aid via Poking; but a revelation that its control proceeded from Poking would cut the ground from under the Communists' pretentions that the party was of a Malayan character and would reveal it as a Chinese undertaking pure and simple. This might gain it some

/additional......