HL Deb 15 February 1956 vol 195 cc993-6

4.20 p.m.

THE EARL OF HOME

My Lords, with your Lordships' leave, I should like to make a statement on Malaya which is being made in another place by my right honourable friend the Colonial Secretary. Your Lordships, I think, know of the background to the Federation of Malaya Constitutional Conference which ended last week. The story is set out in its Report. A copy is already in the Library of the House and it will shortly be printed and laid before Parliament as a White Paper. I want now simply to comment briefly upon its main features.

The Report refers to the desire of the Malayan delegation that full self-government and independence within the Commonwealth should be proclaimed by August, 1957, if possible. The Report agreed that a Constitution so providing should be introduced at the earliest possible date consistent with the importance of the task before the Constitutional Commission, and that every effort would be made by Her Majesty's Government and the Federation Government to achieve this by the time proposed.

Meanwhile, it is necessary to make provision for the interim period, and the recommendations in the Report are principally concerned with this. In accordance with previously accepted procedure, the recommendations of the Conference about the composition and terms of reference of the proposed Constitutional Commission are being submitted separately. The immediate changes proposed include the transfer to Malayan Ministers of responsibility for finance and development, and for internal defence and security, and for the withdrawal of the British advisers to the rulers.

As regards defence, so long as the emergency continues it is recommended that the forces required for its prosecution should remain under the operational command of the Director of Operations and be used to aid the civil authorities in giving effect to the directions of an Emergency Operations Council, of which the Malayan Minister for Internal Defence and Security will be chairman and the Director of Operations a member. It is also proposed that there should be a per- manent Federation Armed Forces Council, with functions in relation to the local armed forces broadly corresponding to those of the Army and Air Councils in the United Kingdom. A fully self-governing Federation of Malaya will be responsible for external defence, and it was agreed that at that stage there should be an agreement between Her Majesty's Government and the Government of the Federation making provision for defence requirements and mutual, assistance in defence matters, including provision affording to Her Majesty's Government both the right to maintain in the Federation the forces necessary for the fulfilment of Commonwealth and international obligations and also the facilities needed in the Federation for the support of these forces, which would include the Commonwealth Strategic Reserve. For their part Her Majesty's Government will undertake to assist the Government of the Federation in the external defence of its territory. It is proposed that the details should be studied by a working party to be set up as soon as possible under the chairmanship of the Commissioner General for the United Kingdom in South East Asia, in which the Australian and New Zealand Governments would be invited to participate through Observers.

The Report also contains important recommendations on financial and economic matters, relating both to the interim period and to that after attainmen of full self-government, including a reaffirmation of the Federation Government's desire to encourage overseas investment to look to Malaya with every assurance of fair and considerate treatment. It makes a number of proposals relating to the position of the public service, including recommendations for the establishment of a Public Service Commission, a Judicial Service Commission and a Police Service Commission, and outlines the provision of a compensation scheme for those whose position and prospects may be affected by the consequences of the constitutional changes. This will, I am sure, go far to remove any feeling of insecurity in the Service, in which British officers, like other men and women from Britain, in agriculture, mining and other spheres, have over the years contributed so much in skill and devoted service to the building up of the Federation to the point at which it can now look forward confidently to full self-government within the Commonwealth.

All the recommendations in the Report are subject to the approval of Her Majesty's Government and of Their Highnesses the Rulers of the Malay States.

Her Majesty's Government were very glad to welcome the Chief Minister, representatives of the Rulers and Members of the Government. We had a very friendly Conference in which all concerned approached the task in a spirit of recognition of our common interest. The friendship and confidence which existed is a good assurance for a future happy partnership with the Federation of Malaya, which we look forward to seeing take, in due course, its place as a fully self-governing member of the Commonwealth.

My Lords, I am afraid that that statement is a little long and a little complicated. It will be much easier to follow when the White Paper is printed, but I thought that your Lordships would like to have that statement made at the same time as it was made in another place.

VISCOUNT ALEXANDER OF HILLSBOROUGH

My Lords, we are obliged to the noble Earl, the Acting Leader of the House, for the courtesy which he has shown in making this statement. I think that a good deal of what it contains has already appeared in the Press. I hope that everyone in the country will welcome it, as I do myself, in principle. I do not think that this important matter has been very widely debated in Parliament, although an agreement seems to have been settled. When the White Paper is issued, we shall study it carefully, and I am sure that your Lordships will wish to have a debate upon it.

THE EARL OF HOME

My Lords, perhaps we can consult together, and make suitable arrangements for a debate.

LORD AMULREE

My Lords, I should like, on behalf of noble Lords on these Benches, to express our welcome for the statement which the noble Earl has just made. We shall look forward to a debate upon it in your Lordships' House. One matter about which I am particularly glad is that there is to be a compensation scheme for people whose positions and prospects are affected. In that respect, things have sometimes gone wrong in the past. I am sure your Lordships will agree that the relevant passage in the statement will convey great comfort to people who may be affected.