456. Memorandum of a Conversation, Department of State, Washington, March 13, 19561
SUBJECT
- Consultation on Anti-Subversive Measures in Singapore and the Federation of Malaya
PARTICIPANTS
- Sir Hubert Graves, Minister, British Embassy
- Mr. Archibald Campbell, Colonial Attaché, British Embassy
- Mr. Eric Kocher, PSA
- Mr. Rufus Z. Smith, PSA
Sir Hubert and Mr. Campbell called at the Department at their initiative, on instructions from London, to present the reaction of the U.K. Government to the suggestion which the Department had made on February 14 in a similar conversation.2 Sir Hubert recalled that it had been suggested in the earlier conversation that the U.S. would be agreeable to the establishment of closer consultation between British and American representatives in London and Washington and, particularly, in Singapore and Kuala Lumpur with regard to possible further measures which might be taken to counter Communist subversion in Singapore and the Federation. Sir Hubert commented that the suggestion and U.S. anxiety over the political situation in Singapore had been duly reported to London and that he had been instructed to inform the Department along the following lines.
It was understood that Mr. Ringwalt of the Embassy in London, Consul General Durbrow in Singapore, and Consul General Wright in Kuala Lumpur have been informed by the appropriate British authorities of plans for taking them further into British confidence with regard to these matters. Sir Hubert explained that particularly in Singapore the situation is complex and delicate and that Mr. Durbrow would be asked to exercise the utmost discretion. Sir Hubert explained that there were two broad categories into which British counter-measures could be classed: anti-Communist measures and measures to be taken against anti-British elements. With regard to [Page 769] anti-Communist measures the British felt that it was essential to have the general concurrence of the principal Asian elected official, Chief Minister Marshall, who had expressed his approval. It was anticipated that Mr. Marshall would be taken into British confidence concerning many anti-Communist plans. However, with regard to measures to be taken against anti-British activities, the U.K. Government did not believe Mr. Marshall should be informed. This separation of fields of activity would require an appreciation on the part of U.S. representatives of the delicacy involved in any discussion of anti-Communist activities with Mr. Marshall.
According to Sir Hubert, Mr. Broome, whose position Sir Hubert did not know, has been designated as the principal point of contact for liaison with Mr. Durbrow’s office concerning these matters generally. Similarly, Mr. Durbrow had been asked to designate a member of his staff to maintain contact with Mr. Broome. …
Sir Hubert noted that comparable arrangements were being made in Kuala Lumpur, although he was not informed as to the name of the officer who would be the principal point of contact for Consul General Wright or his representative.
According to Sir Hubert, the British authorities in London plan to maintain continuing contact of a similar sort with Mr. Ringwalt of the Embassy staff.
The British representatives were informed of the Department’s appreciation of the U.K. Government’s helpful response to our suggestion, and hope was expressed that the liaison arrangements would prove of benefit to both governments.
There followed a more general discussion of the current political situation in Singapore and the Federation. Mr. Campbell remarked that recent public statements by Chief Minister Marshall, in particular a statement expressing doubt of the sincerity of British intentions with regard to self-government to Singapore, placed the U.K. in an awkward position and would make it very difficult for the U.K. to grant to Marshall the same concessions which had already been made to the elected government of the Federation. Mr. Campbell admitted however that any other political group from Singapore likely to play a major role in the negotiations would probably make even more extreme demands.
Sir Hubert emphasized the firm intention of his Government to do everything possible to assist both Singapore and the Federation to attain full self-government.
Mr. Campbell referred to an earlier oral inquiry which had been made as to whether there could be made available to the Department a transcript of the amnesty talks held earlier this year between the [Page 770] Communist terrorists and the Chief Ministers of Singapore and the Federations. He said that in response to his further inquiry to London, he had been told that since the Asian ministers were involved in the discussions, the U.K. Government felt somewhat reluctant to make the transcript available in Washington but was inquiring of its representatives in Malaya to ascertain the possibility of making the text available to our representatives there.3
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, 746F.001/3–1356. Secret. Drafted by Smith on March 14.↩
- See Document 453.↩
- In telegram 5289 to London, March 14, Smith summarized this conversation with the British Embassy officials and added that it still appeared that the British were underestimating the seriousness of the problem in Singapore. Officials in London, as well as in Singapore and Kuala Lumpur, to whom the telegram was also sent, were authorized to make use of the opportunities afforded under the new liaison arrangements to put forward the suggestions outlined in CA–5294, Document 449, as amended. (Department of State, Central Files, 797.00/3–1456)↩