HC Deb 08 December 1969 vol 793 cc25-6
27. Mr. Wall

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the future of the Anglo-Malaysian Defence Agreement.

Mr. M. Stewart

As my noble Friend Lord Winterbottom, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence, Royal Air Force said in another place on 30th October, we have said all along that we shall have to reach a new understanding about the Anglo-Malaysian Defence Agreement to reflect the changed circumstances after 1971. This was made clear in the Communiqué of the 1968 Five-Power Conference in Kuala Lumpur, and this is fully understood by our Commonwealth partners. There has been no change in this position.—[Vol. 305, c. 226.]

Mr. Wall

As it takes two to make an agreement, was the suggestion of the right hon. Gentleman agreed to by the Malaysian Government, or would it be a unilateral abrogation of the Treaty in 1971?

Mr. Stewart

What I have said is that we shall have to reach a new understanding. We hope that confidential discussions to that end will begin soon.

Mr. Dalyell

Would my right hon. Friend take the opportunity of denying a headline that appeared in last Thursday's Daily Mail—"A Secret War"—to the effect that Britain was sending S.A.S. troops as a replacement on the Thai-Malaysia border?

Mr. Stewart

That is a different question, which my hon. Friend should table.

Mr. Wood

Can the right hon. Gentleman say what is the position of Singapore at present? Secondly, is it his definite intention that this agreement should be renegotiated in the lifetime of the present Parliament, or will it be left to his successors?

Mr. Stewart

I hope that it will be possible to renegotiate this in the lifetime of the present Parliament. This is a matter depending not only on us but on the other parties concerned.