§ EARL HOWEMy Lords, I beg to ask His Majesty's Government the question standing in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The question was as follows:
§ To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have any statement to make with regard to the present state of affairs in Burma, and whether they have any bearing on the situation in Malaya.]
§ THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR COLONIAL AFFAIRS (The EARL OF LISTOWEL)My Lords, the attitude of His Majesty's Government towards events in Burma remains as described by the noble Lord, Lord Henderson, in your Lordships' House on June 22. Recent developments have in no way affected the wish of His Majesty's Government to maintain close and friendly relations with Burma in all fields, and His Majesty's Government sincerely hope that the reported intention of the Burmese 760 Foreign Minister to resign on July 20 will not affect these relations. May I say, in passing—and I speak for myself only—how much I appreciate the kindness and courtesy that U Tin Tut has always shown to me, and the skill with which he has upheld the interests of Burma as Foreign Minister in the outside world? His Majesty's Government have no evidence of any immediate connection between Communist activities in Burma and the present situation in Malaya.
VISCOUNT ELIBANKArising out of that answer, may I ask the noble Earl whether, in view of the increasing acts of violence and intimidation taking place in Malaya to-day, the Government have made any arrangements for sending further troops to Malaya, since they are evidently required if this situation is to be properly taken in hand?
§ THE EARL OF LISTOWELThat is another question, but I can assure the noble Viscount that the High Commissioner is satisfied that the police have adequate military support in the action they are taking against the gangsters to whom the noble Viscount refers.
VISCOUNT ELIBANKIf the High Commissioner is satisfied, how is it that these cases of violence are increasing in number and strength all the time?
§ EARL HOWEDoes the noble Earl not consider that the state of affairs in Burma constitutes, to a certain extent, a potential threat all over the area of the East?
§ THE EARL OF LISTOWELThe noble Earl will appreciate that we are fully aware of the position in Burma as regards the Communists. We are satisfied that the Government of Burma are now making every effort to restore the situation. The Burmese Prime Minister stated clearly in his speech of June 13 that there could be no question of an understanding or of negotiations with the Communists while they sought to obtain power by force.
VISCOUNT ELIBANKMay I now have a reply to my question? If the noble Earl cannot give a reply now, perhaps he will ask the High Commissioner whether it is not necessary to increase the number of troops in that country to-day in order to cope with these horrible acts which are all the time being committed.
§ THE EARL OF LISTOWELI can only reiterate that, in the view of the High Commissioner, the support that he desires and considers necessary for putting an end to these acts of violence is forthcoming.