The Minister discussed with the Governor the problem of Service labour relations in Singapore. There is apparently serious danger of a strike unless adequate machinery for negotiation of grievances can be established. The Minister undertook to discuss this problem as a matter of urgency with his colleagues and with the Secretary of State for the Colonies on his return to London.
Day 10
Day 11
Day 12
11th June-At Negombo. Delayed by engine trouble.
12th June-Flight from Negombo, via Riyan and Aden to Fayid.
13th June-The Minister paid a visit to the British Forces at Aqaba. Later he inspected typical married quarters in the Canal Zone and was given an impression of the conditions under which many married officers and other ranks in the Canal Zone are living.
The Minister subsequently had a general discussion with the Com- manders-in-Chief of the problems facing the Middle East Command.
Day 13
14th June Flight from Fayid, via Malta, to Northolt.
ANNEX II
INSTRUCTIONS TO THE GOVERNOR OF HONG KONG
(Conveyed by the Minister of Defence on behalf of the Secretary of State for the Colonies)
Having regard to the threat to the security of Hong Kong, His Majesty's Government have decided to appoint a Commander to command all the Land, Air and Local Naval defence forces in Hong Kong. He will be responsible to the British Defence Co-ordination Committee through the Commanders-in-Chief, Far East.
2. In this connection His Majesty's Government have had under considera- tion the recommendations in your secret signal No. 15 of 3rd May, 1949, that in present circumstances the Hong Kong Government should continue to take all possible measures of defence and security, provided they do not jeopardise the primary function of the Colony as a trading base.
3. His Majesty's Government fully recognise that it is most important in the interests of the welfare of the population of the Colony and of internal security that the commercial life of Hong Kong should be maintained to the fullest extent compatible with the developing situation. Nevertheless, having regard to the threat to the security of the Colony from external aggression and/or internal unrest His Majesty's Government have decided that, in the event of any differences in opinion as to the necessity for, or execution of, any security measures, the views of the Commander, Hong Kong, should prevail provided that, except in cases of extreme urgency, if the difference of opinion concerns a matter of great importance to the welfare of the Colony you shall have the right to refer the matter to the Secretary of State for the Colonies and shall be guided by his decision. In the event of your appealing to the Secretary of State you should immediately inform the British Defence Co-ordination Committee. 4. A copy of these instructions has been communicated to the Commander designate.
9th June, 1949,
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6Page 267 2639hd, Mr. Fraser made a brief pulsemen? 6f his return from London and promised a further statement in the House of Representatives when it reassembles at the end of June.
7. In South Africa, Dr. Malan made a long statement in the House of Assembly on 11th May. Extracts from his speech, and from the speech by Field- Marshal Smuts in the debate which followed, are annexed (Appendix III). It will be noted that Dr. Malan said that he believed that South Africa's best chance of unity was "when we become a Republic," but that at the present moment there were other vital issues which must be solved, and in order to be able to solve them South Africans must seek unity and stand together. But, whether they believed in the Crown link or were republicans, all sections in South Africa were agreed that they wanted to remain in the Commonwealth, provided no restrictions were placed on their freedom.
CC
8. In a statement issued at the conclusion of the Prime Ministers' Meeting Field-Marshal Smuts reiterated the misgivings he had expressed in a similar statement a fortnight earlier and said that in the change now made there was implicit permission, if not encouragement and invitation," to the other Members of the Commonwealth like South Africa with strong republican movements of their own to follow India's example, with consequences which might strain the Commonwealth to the limit. Speaking in the House of Assembly on 11th May, Field-Marshal Smuts said that he appreciated the reasons why the Prime Ministers had decided as they did about India, but he hoped that India's case would be treated as an exception.
9. In India, Pandit Nehru, on 16th and 17th May, submitted the Declaration to the Constituent Assembly for "ratification.' Pandit Nehru's speeches opening and winding-up the Constituent Assembly debate are
are annexed (Appendix IV). These speeches are remarkable for their friendly tone; I think my colleagues will agree that the Prime Minister of India has explained to his countrymen India's new relationship with the Commonwealth with true states- manship, and in a way most likely to help both India and the other countries concerned to implement the decision of the Prime Ministers' Meeting with ease and goodwill. It is worth noting also that the Indian Constituent Assembly adopted the Prime Minister's resolution to ratify the Declaration by an over- whelming majority.
10. On his return to Pakistan, Mr. Liaquat Ali Khan broadcast, on 25th May, to the people of Pakistan about his visit to this country and the Middle East. The part of that broadcast which was devoted to the outcome of the Common- wealth Prime Ministers' Meeting is annexed (Appendix V). From what Mr. Liaquat Ali Khan said it seems likely that the Pakistan Constituent Assembly will debate the Prime Ministers' Declaration and its implications for Pakistan in due course. The Constituent Assembly is not, I think, due to meet! until October.
11. On his return to Ceylon, Mr. Senanayake expressed himself as pleased, on the whole, with the outcome of the Meeting. To a press conference he said that he thought the consensus of opinion in Ceylon found her constitution and relationship with other Commonwealth Members satisfactory.
12. I propose to bring to the attention of my colleagues any further reports of significance which I may receive about developments relating to the Prime Ministers' Declaration of April, 1949, and the texts of any further statements of special importance made about it by Ministers in other Commonwealth countries.
P. J. N.-B.
Commonwealth Relations Office, S.W. 1,
16th June, 1949.
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