§ Q10. Mr. Dalyellasked the Prime Minister if he will invite Tunku Abdul Rahman to London at an early opportunity to discuss the Malaysian-Indonesian conflict.
§ The Prime MinisterThe Tunku and Mr. Lee Kuan Yew are always welcome visitors, but there are no definite plans for either to come to London in the immediate future.
§ Mr. DalyellIs the Prime Minister aware that there are many people in Asia who regard the conflict as essentially a British war and not a Malaysian war? Will he discuss urgently with the Malaysians how we can provide them with training facilities for their own forces, thus creating conditions for a phased British withdrawal from Singapore, Malaysia and Borneo?
§ The Prime MinisterWhatever else it is, it is not a British war. We followed on the policy started by our predecessors of honouring our commitments to our Commonwealth partners when they came under attack from Indonesia. There is no doubt about that. I and my right hon. Friend had the opportunity to discuss this at Lagos with Mr. Lee Kuan Yew and the Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia. Our policy is to look forward to the end of confrontation at the earliest possible moment. Until then, there can be no question of any defaulting on our commitments there.
§ Mr. RankinWould my right hon. Friend give further careful thought to the suggestion in case the Russians intervene first?
§ The Prime MinisterThe previous Russian intervention to which my hon. Friend has referred occurred at a time when the Kashmir matter was before the United Nations, and we quite deliberately took the view that we should not cross the wires in the urgent action being taken, but in this case the Malaysian-Indonesian confrontation is not before the United Nations because, most regrettably, the Indonesians left the United Nations.
§ Mr. HeathThere is widespread understanding throughout Asia about the nature of the confrontation. The British 35 forces there have done an admirable job in getting on top of the situation, and they have been assisted very fully by the Malaysians, including the creation of two battalions which are going to stay there. Would it not be foolish at this point to start to withdraw British forces at the moment when they are achieving success in the hope that Indonesia will do the same?
§ The Prime MinisterI entirely agree with what the right hon. Gentleman has said. I think that hon. Members in all parts of the House will have welcomed some of the pronouncements that he made when he was in that part of the world. What we all regret—the right hon. Gentleman will have seen evidence of this on the spot—is the less satisfactory relations at present between Malaysia and Singapore. It must be the primary aim of all of us to get better understanding between Malaysia and Singapore because of the strain which the present situation puts on our commitments.