§ Lord SHINWELLMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the first Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the situation in Malaysia arising from Communist opposition to the Government of that country; and whether British citizens living there are in any danger.
§ The PARLIAMENTARY UNDERSECRETARY of STATE, FOREIGN and COMMONWEALTH OFFICE (Lord Goronwy-Roberts)My Lords, Communist terrorism is a long-standing problem in Malaysia. However, the terrorists do not constitute a major threat to the stability of the State. British citizens are not a terrorist target and are in no special danger.
§ Lord SHINWELLMy Lords, does my noble friend recall that it was the Attlee Government, supported by Field Marshal Sir Gerald Templer and Mr. Malcolm MacDonald, that achieved independence for Malaysia, which has been sustained by succeeding Governments? In the circumstances prevailing in Malaysia at the present time, which apparently my noble friend seems to ignore, is it not desirable that Her Majesty's Government should be taking notice of the situation?
§ Lord GORONWY-ROBERTSMy Lords, we are not ignoring the situation in Malaysia. I have just said that terrorism is a problem of long standing in that country. Our information is that 996 it does not at present constitute a threat to the stability of the State. In regard to the arrangements made some quarter of a century ago to which my noble friend referred, these still hold good through the Five-Nation Defence Agreement, to which we are a party. We have an obligation to consult if and when aggression is attempted against the State of Malaysia.
§ Lord SHINWELLMy Lords, is my noble friend not aware that it was precisely terrorism which was suppressed through the efforts of the Attlee Government and the persons I mentioned in my last supplementary question? Are we to understand that the Five-Nation Agreement is a practical means of averting trouble in Malaysia? Have we not in fact abandoned all our interests in that area?
§ Lord GORONWY-ROBERTSMy Lords, I do not think so. The question of terrorism is, in the first instance, for the Government of Malaysia to deal with. We have over the years assisted this State to build up its security and defence forces, as my noble friend knows, and we provide important and valuable loan Service personnel for that Government, and accept in this country for training purposes selected officers and men from the Malaysian Forces.
§ Lord SEGALMy Lords, is there not a far more serious threat of Communist subversion in the adjoining territory of Thailand? Can my noble friend say how far the machinery of SEATO has already been brought into operation to meet that threat?
§ Lord GORONWY-ROBERTSMy Lords, that is a somewhat separate question, although I agree it is cognate to what has been asked. SEATO is in constant consultation among its members as to the best way of withstanding this kind of incursion. Of course, the situation in Thailand causes anxiety as a result or the great dislocation arising from the war in Indo-China.
§ Lord SHINWELLMy Lords, may I ask my noble friend whether the Government will look a little more earnestly into what is happening in Malaysia at the present time? Is he aware that there is a great deal of turbulence there, and if 997 the Government refuse to heed warnings of this kind and there are serious consequences it is the Government which will be to blame?
§ Lord GORONWY-ROBERTSMy Lords, once more I would counsel against blaming the United Kingdom, whichever Government are in power, for everything that happens in every part of the world. However, I can give my noble friend this absolute assurance. As in the past, so in the future, we shall keep a very careful watch over what is happening in the territory of this friend and fellow member of the Commonwealth, and do everything we possibly can within our resources to assist that Government and people.