§ 32. Mr. W. Fletcherasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the inclusion of Singapore in the Malayan Federation is contemplated; and what steps are being taken by the Governor of Singapore, in view of the recommendation is of the Cheeseman Report, to apply for membership of the federation on behalf of Singapore thereby allaying the considerable political unrest of Chinese and other Asiatic residents on being excluded from the federation.
Mr. Creech JonesIn Command Paper No. 6724 of January, 1946, it was stated that the close ties between Singapore and the mainland were recognised, and that it was no part of the policy of His Majesty's Government to preclude or prejudice in any way their fusion at a later date should such a course be considered desirable. This remains the view of His Majesty's Government, but I do not feel able to make any further statement at the present stage, when discussions regarding the constitutional arrangements in Malaya are not concluded.
§ Mr. FletcherWill the Minister realise that unless he grasps now the nettle of the inclusion of Singapore with the rest of Malaya its sting will be very much worse later?
Mr. Creech JonesI fully appreciate the difficulty of this problem but the present conversations about the constitution of Malaya must be concluded first.