§ The Secretary of State for the Colonies (Mr. Alan Lennox-Boyd)I was approached early yesterday by the Chief Minister of Singapore, proposing a basis for resumption of discussions. As a consequence, I asked the Singapore delegation to meet me informally. Unfortunately, out of the 12 delegates who are still in London only the Chief Minister and two of his Government colleagues found themselves able to attend. When I asked whether these proposals had the support of the delegation he replied that they were purely his own personal suggestions. I stated that I was perfectly ready to discuss these proposals provided that they were put forward either by the delegation or by the Singapore Government. Since this was not the case we reluctantly agreed that the present negotiations could not be usefully prolonged.
As I informed the House last Wednesday, Her Majesty's Government are always prepared to renew discussions on the basis of our present proposals with this or any other Government of Singapore.
§ Mr. BevanDoes not the right hon. Gentleman realize that, all the time, he uses language that makes it extremely difficult for those with whom he is negotiating? He continually says, "on the basis of the Government's present proposals," whereas what has been attempted is to get away from those proposals to a further modification. Before this lamentable episode finishes, I should like to know from the right hon. Gentleman whether he himself is prepared to accept 2372 this further modification of the Government's proposals. Surely, at this stage, it is not a question of what the Singapore Government want or does not want it is what Her Majesty's Government themselves would desire—and if the delegation returns to Singapore able to say that this further modification is acceptable to the Government it might change the situation there.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydThe right hon. Gentleman has not got the whole of this either correctly or in perspective. I said that if, in fact, this particular proposal, which related to the Orders in Council procedure— some part, if not all, of which would have happened anyhow, as part of the normal method of dealing with Orders in Council— were part of a general agreement it was well worth pursuing, but what we could not risk, and what the credit and confidence of Singapore could not risk, was a second breakdown. If, therefore, this proposal were part of a general settlement, and if it were backed either by the delegation or by the Government of Singapore, it was well worth pursuing, but as neither of those considerations arose I reluctantly came to the conclusion which I have mentioned in my statement to the House.
§ Mr. BevanBut is it not obvious that the right hon. Gentleman is saying that the Government are prepared to have further discussions upon the basis of proposals already turned down by the delegation? There has emerged, in the course of the discussions, a further proposal which modifies the Government's scheme and which is acceptable to the Chief Minister of Singapore. If that modification can be said to be acceptable to Her Majesty's Government, a new situation then arises, around which public opinion in Singapore might begin to form. But so long as the right hon. Gentleman stubbornly says, "We are going to have discussions only upon the basis of proposals already rejected," he is bound to have trouble.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydAs the right hon. Gentleman should know, it is quite impossible for negotiations of this importance to be carried on in that way. The delegation has clearly disintegrated, and I must take notice of that fact— and that disintegration was certainly not caused by me. It now must be for the political pattern of Singapore to sort itself 2373 out before we can usefully resume consideration as to the right path of progress.
§ Mr. J. GriffithsAs I understand, the proposal put forward by the Chief Minister was a modification of the proposals made by the Secretary of State and, therefore, would, in a sense, accept the major provisions of the policy which he put forward, subject to modification. If the delegation were willing to discuss this modification, would the right hon. Gentleman be prepared to discuss it also?
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydI made them perfectly clear yesterday. I said that if it was to have a formal discussion to discuss that proposed modification, I would very readily meet all the delegation yesterday. Some of the very important delegates made their position clear in a public statement in the morning. Others made their position clear in the afternoon, and, in the event, as I say to the House, all that came in the end—and they were very welcome—were the Chief Minister and two of his colleagues. Of his own Labour Front supporters, one did not come, two Alliance supporters of his Government did not come, none of the Liberal-Socialists came and none of the Action Party people came, so it could not possibly be said, in regard to the truth of language, that the delegation was behind these proposals.
§ Mr. GriffithsDo I take it, therefore —and this is important; there are still two days before the delegation returns—that the position is that the Secretary of State is willing, if the delegation will discuss it with him, to discuss this modification of the proposals which he has put forward? In other words, he does not now say, "I will not vary the proposals as put forward, but I will discuss them." Towards the end of his statement the right hon. Gentleman said that he would be prepared to discuss with this or any other Government in Singapore. Does he envisage, therefore, that when the delegation returns there will be a General Election in Singapore?
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydThat is not for me to say. There is the Constitution in Singapore and there are the normal constitutional processes which would be gone through. That matter must be settled on the spot, and certainly not by me. I made my position quite clear to the Chief Minister—and I am sure that there is no misunderstanding there—namely, that had he come forward on behalf of the delegation, or with the delegation, or with even a majority of the delegation, in favour of these proposals, I would have discussed the matter. But I must say that, the situation having reached the stage it has and it being clear that was not so, my best advice to the people of Singapore and to the delegation will be to allow the political pattern in Singapore to work itself out. Her Majesty's Government's offer remains, that we are always prepared to renew discussions on the basis of our present proposals with this or any other Government of Singapore.
§ Mr. BevanThat is a lamentable statement— to allow the political pattern of Singapore to work itself out. Has anyone heard a more lamentable piece of bankruptcy. To work itself out like Cyprus, I suppose?
§ Mr. G. LongdenIs my right hon. Friend aware that, in spite of what has been said by the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Ebbw Vale (Mr. Bevan), most hon. Members and most people in the country will realise that he has gone to the utmost lengths of patience and consideration—
§ Mr. Longden— in dealing with this delegation and will very greatly regret that the delegation has not seen fit to accept what would have been, in substance, full self-government?
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydI thank my hon. Friend very much.
Motion made, and Question proposed, That this House do now adjourn.—[Mr. Heath.]