CO537-6578 — Page 72

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or the same reason, the phrase "anti-Communist" suggests that

the government is engaged in police action on a large scale

and its focus becomes therefore hypnotically narrowed, leaving the wide ranging battlefield of ideas to Communist propaganda which can never be completely damned, diverted, or destroyed.

The police have their vital active role directly against the

Communists as individuals and as a party: but the attack on the

political propaganda of the Communists and the conflict of

ideas is a matter of broad policy which should be seen as a relentless and unceasing political campaign of words based on deeds. Propaganda which is neither tied to policy nor

based on facts, is at best short-lived in its effect.

function of publicity is to give currency to the facts in every possible form and language to ensure they are understood

as widely as possible. Conversely policy while it must have

a realism and consistent direction should be adjusted wherever possible to ensure, and always presented to ensure, that it appears in a form which is consistent with the popular picture of the policy of government and which can most easily be depicted as in conformity with the real interests of the people.

For this basic reason, I put the broad propaganda themes

2.

in the following order of priority:

The

(a) The varied activities of Government in the service of

the people at all levels and in every racial and social group; the shape and development of the plans for the community: and the need for the co-operation of the

people. The two dominant themes must be:

(1) the identity of interest of Government and people. The Government of Singapore must be projected as increasingly by the people of Singapore and for those whose personal destiny is tied to the destiny of the Colony.

(11) the opportunity...