§ 32. Mr. Wilson Harrisasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that in the course of the recent negotiations with Malayan rulers, the Sultan of Kedah was threatened with deposition if he refused to sign the agreement presented to him by the British 322 representative; and under what powers such action was taken.
§ 35. Mr. Pickthornasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why the Sultan of Kedah is being detained in Malaya; whether he is aware that any threat of deposition was made; whether he has considered the petition from the Sultan of Kedah; and if he has any further statement to make.
Mr. Creech JonesI would invite attention to the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Swindon (Mr. T. Reid) on 27th February. It will be seen from the latter part of paragraph 13 and from paragraph 20 of Sir Harold MacMichael's report, in which he gives an objective statement of his discussions with the Sultan of Kedah, that no threat of deposition was used. Nor is it a fact that His Highness is being detained in Malaya. I am aware of his desire to visit this country and I am communicating with the authorities in Malaya as regards the grant of facilities for him to do so. I have received several communications from His Highness, and these are now receiving my consideration.
§ Mr. HarrisIs the hon. Gentleman aware that I have a copy of a letter from the Sultan of Kedah in which he states explicitly that he was given a verbal ultimatum and that if he did not sign the Agreement within the time limit, someone else who would sign it would be appointed in his place? Is that not very largely confirmed by the statement of Sir Harold MacMichael that the Sultan signed because he saw no practical alternative?
Mr. Creech JonesI must give an emphatic denial to the serious allegation in the first part of the supplementary question. There was no time limit, nor was there a threat in regard to deposition or that someone else would be appointed in place of the Sultan.
§ Mr. PickthornWhen the hon. Gentle man tells us that the Sultan is not being detained, does that cover advice? Is he or is he not being strongly advised to stay where he is? On the third part of my original Question, may we have an answer? Is the petition from the Sultan of Kedah being considered, or has it been considered, and is there any statement to make on it?
Mr. Creech JonesRegarding the latter part of the supplementary question, the petition involves a series of representations to His Majesty's Government. Those matters are under active consideration at the present moment. I hope that in the Debate on Friday it may be possible to make a statement on the matter.
§ Mr. PickthornCan I have an answer to the first part of my supplementary question?
§ Mr. PickthornWhether, when it is said that the Sultan is not being detained, what is meant is that he is not being forcibly detained, or whether it is true that he is being held there by strong advice?
Mr. Creech JonesTo my knowledge he is not being held there by strong advice. In point of fact, we are in communication with the authorities there in order to help his visit over here.
§ Mr. HarrisCould my hon. Friend state on what authority he says that there was not a threat? The Sultan, who, after all, was a party to the conversation, has stated in more than one letter to friends in this country that there was a definite threat.
Mr. Creech JonesI would point out that in some of the communications which we have seen, there are certain misrepresentations of fact in regard to the question of being held up. The alleged fact that a time limit was placed on the negotiations, for instance, is completely untrue. Further, the suggestion that there would be a successor to the Regent, as he then was, is another untrue assertion.
§ Mr. PickthornMight I ask the Minister whether he really wishes to stick to the words he has just used and whether in this very important matter, which is under such very active negotiation, he really wish is to describe what one side says as containing misrepresentations of fact and what the other side says as being objective? Does he really mean to stick to those words at this stage?