CO129-591-12 Military Administration- Civil affairs- directives to force commander and senior officials 24-2-1945 - 13-9-1945 — Page 111

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DIRECTIVE ON CIVIL AFFAIRS FOR MALAYA

TO THE SUPREME ALLIED COMMANDER, SOUTH EAST ASIA COMMAND.

1.

Upon the liberation of Malaya or within such territories thereof or adjacent thereto as are under the control of your forces you will set up a military administration for the government of the civil population of the territory. To this end you will assume for yourself by Proclamation such powers as are necessary for the administration of the liberated territories, and will also arrange for the delegation of such powers to the Military Commander designated by you, as General Officer Commanding, Military Forces, Malaya. You will likewise suspend the powers and jurisdiction of all existing courts and tribunals and in their place set up military courts which will derive their authority from your proclamation and deal with all offences committed by the civil population. Such courts will administer the laws in force in MALAYA prior to the Japanese occupation modified or supplemented by proclamation as may be necessary for the security of the liberating forces and the maintenance of order.

2.

In order to enable you (or the Military Commander designated by you for the purpose) to carry on the Military Administration, a Chief Civil

He will on your Affairs Officer, Malaya (C.C.A.0.(M)) has been appointed. behalf and subject to your general directions (or those of the Military Commander) administer the civil population of the liberated territories during the operational phase in the name of the Military Commander, and subsequently in his own name. For all purposes in connection with military administration, the Military Commander referred to above will be formally designated "General He will at no time assume the Officer Commanding, Military Forces, Malaya". title of Military Governor.

3.

The C.C.A.0.(M) will be provided with a staff of military officers augmented, as may be necessary, by civilians and subordinate military and civil staffs. In so far as is possible, personnel for this staff will be made available by the Colonial Office from officials of the former Government of Malaya, who know the country, the language and the people.

4.

During the currency of the military period, military consideration will be paramount. The duties of the military administration (as distinct from those of C.C.A.0.(M) referred to in para 5 below) will be two fold. FIRSTLY, in those territories under militar, administration C.C.0.(M) and the Civil Affairs Officers under his direction will administer the civil population in such a way as to meet the requirements of local Military

To this Commanders and to further the general well being of the territory. end, they will restore law and order among the civil population, distribute essential supplies and advise and act on behalf of the local Commanders in their dealings with the civil population. SECONDLY, C.C.A.0.(M) will (as soon as military cxigencies permit) take the hecessary steps to establish as far as possible the essential framework of administration within the liberated territories as territory is uncovered, and lay the foundations of stable future government.

5.

The liberation of Malaya necessitates the irmediate resumption of H.M.G's responsibility to the peoples of Malaya for their protection and good government. This will, in addition to those measures indicated under para 4 above, call for energetic administrative action and involve a number of activities of government which have no military significance and for which the

these matters will be the War Office has no responsibility to Parliament;

It has been decided, therefore, that responsibility of the Colonial Office. C.C.A.0.(M) will have a dual responsibility which he will discharge in accordance with the decisions and directions of His Majesty's Government as recorded in the memorandum on this subject which has been communicated to you separately.

6./......