§ Sir W. de FRECEasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he can state the terms of his reply to the unofficial members of the Federal Council of the Malay States with regard to the substitution in 1911 of the title of Chief Secretary, and their recommendation of a return to the earlier title of Resident General?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLThe reply given to the unofficial members of the Federal Council was to the effect that I considered that the conclusion reached by Lord Crewe, after long and careful consideration, had been justified by the history of1470W the past decade, and that the unity of responsibility and control which had been thus secured was more than ever necessary in view of the requirements of the present time for very close co-operation in matters, both economic and financial, between the Federated Malay States and the Straits Settlements; that I regretted that. I could not see my way to reversing the policy then deliberately decided upon with the full consent of the Sultans and their Residents and since pursued: and that I observed that the High Commissioner was prepared to carry out a policy of decentralisation and closer co-operation with the Chief Secretary without change in the present unity of control and responsibility, a policy of which I expressed my approval.