§ Lieut.-Colonel Bromley-Davenportasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what military commitments have been entered into with the Government 138W of the Federation of Malaya with regard to the use of Commonwealth Forces in that territory after Independence Day for the purpose of maintaining order or the prevention of civil commotion or racial strife.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydUpon independence, the Government of the Federation of Malaya will become exclusively responsible for the maintenance of law and order in the Federation, and the armed forces of other Commonwealth countries will not normally be available to assist the civil power in the Federation in these tasks for which the Federation Government will be able to rely upon substantial forces of its own. There is every reason to suppose that they will be able to deal with any civil commotion or racial strife that may occur.
The Federation Government have indicated, however, that upon independence it intends to request the assistance of those Commonwealth forces which will be stationed in the country in prosecuting its campaign against the Communist terrorists, and Her Majesty's Government have stated that, if such a request is made, they will be willing that their forces should provide that assistance under suitable arrangements.