§ 30. Mr. Gammansasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what action he proposes to take regarding the claims officially being made by the Chinese in Malaya for an investigation of their constitutional position either by a Royal Commission or other means.
Mr. DugdaleDuring the visit of my right hon. Friend to Malaya the Malayan Chinese Association and the Association of Chinese Chambers of Commerce put a request to him for the appointment of a Royal Commission on constitutional development in the Federation of Malaya. In replying, he said that he was unable to accept the proposal as a satisfactory solution of the political and that constitutional problems of the Federation could in his view, best be reached by free discussion between representatives of the 389 various communities. With permission, I will circulate the text of my right hon. Friend s reply in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Mr. GammansDoes that answer mean that the Government are not favourable to any change in the constitutional arrangements at the present time, and, if so, have they informed the Chinese?
Mr. DugdaleThe Report does not comment on that at all. It simply says that the best method is by agreement between the communities rather than by the establishment of a Royal Commission.
Following is the text:
During my visit to Malaya the Malayan Chinese Association and the Association of Chinese Chambers of Commerce put a request to me for the appointment of a Royal Commission on constitutional development in the Federation of Malaya.Although there is some force in the argument that a Royal Commission would be in a position to make disinterested recommendations for further progress, I do not consider that such investigation at the present juncture would assist a solution of the political and constitutional problems of the Federation. A solution of these problems likely to be beneficial to the peoples of the Federation and therefore acceptable to His Majesty and Their Highnesses the Rulers can, I am sure, best he reached by free discussion between representatives of the various communities. The recommendations of a Royal Commission would be of little practical value unless there was that measure of agreement between the various communities necessary to ensure that they would be put into practice and made to work effectively.
31. Mr. Gammonsasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what action he proposes to take regarding the desire officially expressed by the Chinese community of the Federation of Malaya that a Chinese regiment should be recruited as part of the Malayan Defence Force.
Mr. DugdaleThe pressing need is for Chinese in the Police Force, and the High Commissioner has recently made it clear that there is no more effective way for them to show loyalty to the Federation at the present time than by joining the police. The possibility of recruiting Chinese into regular units of local armed forces is also under active consideration.
§ Mr. GammansDoes that mean that the Government propose to consult the Malays and the other communities in Malaya before taking this step?
Mr. DugdaleIt means that we consider it is much the best thing for the Chinese to be part of a general Malayan force—a force representing the whole country of Malaya, of which they are citizens.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydWhat response has there been by the Chinese community to this appeal to join the police?