Independence Celebrations (Hansard, 29 July 1957)

§ Mr. Lennox-Boyd

Owing to the shortage of suitable accommodation in Kuala Lumpur, the Government of the Federation decided that only those countries most closely associated with the Federation could be invited. They there 131W fore limited their invitations to countries within the following groups:

(a)Commonwealth countries and the Republic of Ireland.
(b)Colombo Plan countries.
(c)Countries with de carriere consular representation in the Federation.
(d)Muslim countries.
(e)British dependent territories in South East Asia and the Pacific.

The invitations were sent through Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom for transmission to the Governments concerned. Her Majesty's Government informed the Government of the Federation that they were not able to agree that invitations should be transmitted to those countries which had broken off diplomatic relations with the United Kingdom. These countries are Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Syria.

Following is a list of the Governments invited to the celebrations of the Independence of the Federation of Malaya:

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
The Commonwealth of Australia.
Canada.
Central African Federation.
Ceylon.
Ghana.
Republic of India.
Dominion of New Zealand.
Islamic Republic of Pakistan.
Union of South Africa.
Republic of Ireland.
Union of Burma.
Kingdom of Cambodia.
Republic of Indonesia.
Kingdom of Laos.
Kingdom of Nepal.
Republic of Philippines.
Kingdom of Thailand.
State of Vietnam.
Kingdom of Belgium.
French Republic.
Federal Republic of Germany.
Republic of Italy.
Empire of Japan.
Kingdom of the Netherlands.
United States of America.
Kingdom of Iraq.
Kingdom of Iran.
Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan
Republic of Lebanon.
United Kingdom of Libya.
Shereefian Empire of Morocco
Republic of the Sudan.
Kingdom of Tunisia.
Republic of Turkey.
Kingdom of Yemen.
Kingdom of Afghanistan.
Singapore.
Hong Kong.
Sarawak.
Brunei.
North Borneo.
Fiji.