CO537-6578 — Page 74

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Similarly, the activity of Trade Union is essential

if the itch for activity and the ambitions of the few are

not to be driven to anti-social outlets.

The declining number

of trade unions and their lower rate of activity is a sign of

weakness and not of strength in the government's position.

The Communists promise purposive activity towards ultimately

attainable ends and in the end the fruits of office

or the halo of public recognition of services, conmensurate

with their risk and initiative. We must promise no less and

prove the difference that the certainty of the prospects on

our side is based on fact as well as faith.

Government by its activities must prove its progressive

purposes and it must show itself a government which though

European in personnel is a Government of an Asian territory

developing an Asian future. But it remains a british colony

destined to stay within the British Commonwealth and the

stature of the government must therefore depend too on the

prestige of Britain in international policy, political behaviour

and social experiment. This both gives an example and gives

the satisfaction of association with a force far from spent. There must therefore be an emphasis on critish partnership

without any suggestion of subjection, and this requires that British policies, particularly foreign policies, should be

understood. And with a threat of international war not as

distant as we would comfortably like it to be, it is doubly

important that the Singapore people should understand the

international issues in which they will have to take the

British side, and accept conscription and active service as if

it were their own.

(b) The local activities of the Communists:

their violent and destructive nature; the contrast between their promises and the means they use:

their power-seeking ambitions and the form of

one-party,.