TROOPS FOR MALAYA

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27675, 3 June 1955, Page 13

TROOPS FOR MALAYA

Local View Debated At Canberra (Rec. 10 p.m.) CANBERRA, June 2. Australia’s External Affairs Minister, Mr Richard Casey, told the House of Represenatives today that he knew of no expression of direct opposition by the Singapore Government to the stationing of Australian ’ troops at Singapore. The Leader of the Opposition, Dr. Evatt. had asked whether such objection had been expressed and whether it was the result of any communication or inquiry. Another Opposition member, Mr Clyde Cameron, asked Mr Casey whether the British Government had requested Australia to withhold its decision to send troops to Malaya until after the Malayan Federation elections. Mr Cameron further asked whether the British Government had asked Australia seriously to consider “not persisting with the American Government’s request that Australia send troops to Malaya.” Mr Casey replied that as far as he knew the British Government never made any representations in that direction. Mr Cameron said the Peoples Action Party was making opposition to the sending of Australian troops the main plank in its election platform. He wanted to know whether in the event of the party winning the elections, Australia would accept that as an expression on the issue by the Malayan People, and reverse its decision to send Australian troops to Malaya. Mr Casey said: “I believe it improper to canvass views of a particular party before an election in another country over which we do not have jurisdiction. “I do not propose to add any fuel to the flames in an attempt to raise this matter of controversy.”

Jugoslav Ship Lost With All Hands

8 p.m.) BELGRADE, June 1. Iwenty-six men of the Jugoslav aavy were drowned when a small training minesweeper sank in a \‘f nn .^ n the Northern Ardiatic yesterday. the official Jugoslav agency, TanJug reported today. Mourning was decreed for the whole ugoslav Navy when the news was e that the minesweeper had J £k with the loss of all hands. •Lw° officers, two petty officers, 11 auets, and 11 sailors were lost.

Parallel with these determined bids at mediation. Sir Anthony Eden’s Cabinet is meeting to review the Government’s emergency programme since the declaration of a State of emergency at midnight on Saturday. The Prime Minister and his Ministers are considering whether more sweeping emergency powers should be sought to protect the nation’s essential services from both the rail stoppage and the strike by 20.000 dock workers—which is now in its eleventh day.

In spite of the anxiety of the T.U.C. to reach a settlement some congress leaders are critical of the Government and of the British Transport Commission—which runs Britain’s State-owned railways—for not doing more to meet the demands of the strikers. “Lack of money” is pleaded by the commission as the reason for its inability to pay railwaymen higher wages.

Meanwhile as peace moves continue the Government’s emergency measures are working better than had been expected.

More trains ran yesterday and workers in London and other major centres had less difficulty in getting to their jobs. Freight trains carrying priority coal, milk, fish, iron ore and petroleum ran in greater numbers than on the previous day and the Army and the Royal Air Force are aiding the transport of mail. Nevertheless the stoppage remains a grim threat to the national life. Newspapers today forecast that 1,000,000 will be unemployed by next week, in steel plants, coal mines, shipbuilding yards and other industries, as a result of reduced coal supplies during the strike.

Fall In Tea Price Hits Ceylon

COLOMBO, June 1. A fall in tea prices is partly responsible for a drop in Ceylon’s external assets in April, a Central Bank of Ceylon bulletin says today. The assets had been rising almost continuously since December, 1953. External assets fell by 5.500.000 rupees (about £413.500) to 1,014,500.000 rupees (about £76.280,000) in April, the bulletin says. It attributed this mainly to a fall in commodity prices, particularly tea, and to a drop in the volume of exports.

In April the money supply fell by 20.900,000 rupees, the bulletin says. But this was 130.300,000 rupees (abort £9.797,000) above the level in April 1954. . ’

Meanwhile the committee of the Low Country Products Association, which is made up of tea growers, has urged the Ceylon Government to appoint a committee immediately to inquire into all aspects of the te*a industry.