§ Q6. Mr. Hefferasked the Prime Minister what initiatives are being taken by Her Majesty's Government to seek ways and means for a peaceful settlement to the present conflict between Malaysia and Indonesia, in particular by means of a possible conference of the two countries under the chairmanship of Pakistan.
§ The Prime MinisterThe British Government have consistently maintained that they would welcome a peaceful settlement of the dispute arising from Indonesia's policy of armed hostility towards Malaysia on a basis which ensured respect for Malaysia's independence and territorial integrity.
With regard to the specific question of the possibility of mediation by Pakistan, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 9th February by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations to Questions from the hon. Member for Torquay (Sir F. Bennett) and the right hon. Member for Streatham (Mr. Sandys).
§ Mr. HefferIn view of the fact that the guerrilla activities have diminished within the past few weeks, would not my right hon. Friend agree that this presents a further opportunity for some initiative on the part of our Government; and also, if Pakistan is not an acceptable country, could not we consider the offer of Algeria, which is also a Moslem country, and which could be acceptable to Malaysia and Indonesia which are both Moslem countries?
§ The Prime MinisterThe position of the Government, and I am sure of the whole House, is that we should welcome any initiative which might lead to a settlement and an end of this confrontation, provided there was no question of a settlement interfering with Malaysia as it is at present constituted. There 1362 have been a number of suggestions for mediation. We have to make clear so far as we are concerned that we would welcome anything which would produce an honourable settlement but we cannot get into the position of ourselves negotiating which would give the Indonesians just the argument they are looking for to suggest that Malaysia is in some way in a tutelary position, which is not the case. She is a self-governing member of the Commonwealth. We have promised her full support and given her full support and it could well be that that support may have something to do with the recent diminution of activity.
§ Mr. MendelsonNevertheless, would my right hon. Friend recall that it was the stated policy of the Labour Party when in Opposition and also the agreed policy of the Conservative Party when in Government that this problem requires a political solution as soon as possible? Would not he also agree that, while of course we guarantee the security of the Federation of Malaysia, we must not be too restrictive and cautious in suggesting a political initiative in view of the fact that we are largely responsible through our own men for the defence of the Federation of Malaysia?
§ The Prime MinisterOf course, this requires a political solution and so does every other piece of trouble of a similar character going on in any part of the world. Of course, a political solution is necessary. This is not in the ordinary sense a war. There is no real basis of dispute between Indonesia and Malaysia. This is infiltration into Malaysian territory by units from Indonesia. The whole trouble arises from the fact that Indonesia, as we saw by her conduct at the United Nations, does not recognise the existence of Malaysia and that is one of the difficulties about a political solution which we all want to achieve.
§ Sir Alec Douglas-HomeWill the Prime Minister understand that while we all want a political settlement, as long as he sticks to the principles and the practice which he enunciated just now at the Box, he will have the full support of this side of the House?