890.00TA/3–2150: Telegram
The Consul at Kuala Lumpur ( Poole ) to the Secretary of State
22. For Merchant from Griffin.1 Arrived Singapore afternoon March 16, briefed by Consulate General staff following morning, after which met with MacDonald who stated inter alia most important development affecting Southeast Asia recent months transpired Washington as evidenced decisions US participate more actively this area, commented special enthusiasm Secretary’s speech. Re mission, stated regardless amount aid possibly forthcoming fact American participation prime importance. He stated any request could be considered only tentative as certain questions re acceptance US aid by Commonwealth Nations yet unresolved London, as Spender plan not yet developed, and view coming Canberra conference.2 (Unresolved situation may possibly result from differences Foreign Office, Colonial Office, re use American adviser, technicians.) MacDonald proposed following general types urgent aid:
- (1)
- Provision communication, transport equipment, including: light armored vehicles all for civil police Federation of Malaya, road building equipment and technicians accompany above materiel.
- (2)
- Assistance rapid expansion educational program Chinese Federation of Malaya through provision educators speaking south [Page 65] Chinese dialects and able train rural Chinese teachers, possibly Americans formerly employed China, and through provision training aids.
- (3)
- Provision Singapore police American tear gas equipment stated by British as superior British types.
Subsequent conference MacDonald’s staff provided detailed information substantiate above requests. Staff government Singapore later conference suggested US might assist island by aiding manufacture tuberculosis vaccines, providing limited number technicians various categories and through assistance development University Malaya, also proposed several long-range projects of technical assistance character. Later revealed conference MacDonald’s staff considerable portion senior government positions technical fields are, health, veterinary services etc., vacant lack qualified applicants. At another conference Australian Embassy officer stated Canberra conference late May hoped would result tentative aid program and be followed by periodic consultative conferences. Wished coordinate with US aid and Commonwealth plan would include recommendations US and United Nations aid. Insistent that consultative group not grow too large, not include Nationalist China or Korea, preferred not Philippines. Officer stated Spender plan still too vague for discussion and Australian Government “not ready”.
Proceeded Monday Kuala Lumpur with Hayes, McAfee, Duff,3 Poole.
Present itinerary provides for, completion final recommendations Indochina, Malaya, Burma prior arrival Bangkok. Believe mission would find it advantageous return via Paris, London for conferences Embassy staff re fact finding and condition Southeast Asia. Request appropriate authorization. [Griffin.]
- For the text of the report prepared by the Griffin Mission during and after its visit to Malaya and Singapore, March 16–23, regarding the needs of the Colony and the Federation for economic and technical aid, see Hayes, The Grifffm Mission, pp. 127–149.↩
- The Commonwealth Consultative Committee met in Sydney from May 15 to May 20.↩
- Col. Russell G. Duff, Department of Defense, Adviser to the Griffin Mission.↩