§ 24. Mr. Rankinasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what talks have taken place between the Governments of Singapore, the United Kingdom and the Federation of Malaya on the part Malaya will play in the internal security of Singapore; and what proposals have been made.
§ Mr. ProfumoAs announced at the end of the Singapore Constitutional discussions in May this year, the Federation Government have reaffirmed their undertaking to participate in the work of the Internal Security Council to be set up under the new Singapore Constitution on the lines of paragraphs 27 and 28 of the Report of the 1957 Singapore Constitutional Conference (Cmd. 147). Her 1567 Majesty's Government, in consultation with the Singapore Government, are now considering with the Federation Government how formally to provide for this association since the instrument containing the Singapore Constitution will be made under the authority of the United Kingdom Parliament and cannot bind the Federation as an independent state.
§ Mr. RankinI thank the Under-Secretary for that reply. Does he agree that in the meantime no firm decisions should be taken until after the elections in Singapore, when the political climate may be more stable? Does he also agree that we should do nothing which in any way would retard the union of Singapore with the independent Federation of Malaya?
§ Mr. ProfumoWhile not necessarily disagreeing with the hon. Member, that question goes very much wider than the Question on the Order Paper, which I have tried to answer.