CO537-6578 — Page 81

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the current policy of His Majesty's Government and to

describe British aims and methods; they must also be prepared to advocate the basic principles which distinguish the democratic from the Communist or other authoritarian

countries.

3.

Among the special difficulties which information

services in this area have to overcome are:

4.

(i) The feeling common to all countries of the

area that the Western Powers have not

abandoned their imperialist aims and are

still seeking to exert control over small

independent Asian countries.

Despite the

existence in the area of British Colonial

dependencies, this feeling is modified, in

our case, by British post-war policy towards

the Asian countries of the Commonwealth. (ii) A reluctance to collaborate too openly with

the West lest this should lead to them being dragged into a war: hence a desire to remain

neutral in a world conflict or failing that to be on the winning side; there is some

uncertainty as to which side it is likely

to be.

(iii) Resentment at the higher standard of living

enjoyed by Westerners in South East Asia.

Many of the leaders of opinion in those countries are aware of their ignorance of administrative techniques and are willing to learn from us, provided they can do so without appearing to compromise their independence. Information policy in South East Asia should therefore devote particular attention to providing information and services of direct use to these peoples. It should be made plain that we wish to help them, and not to impose our way of life on them.

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