SARAWAK STATUS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22210, 21 December 1946, Page 3

SARAWAK STATUS

BAN ONJBROOKE DEBATE IN COMMONS GOVERNMENT’S DEFENCE (10 a.m.) LONDON. Dec. 20. It was officially announced in Singapore that Mr. Anthony Brooke refused to give assurances that if he came to Singapore from Hong Kong he would refrain from making statements or indulging in any activity relating to, the status of Sarawak. The Singapore Government is awaiting news of his future intentions. An immigration official requested correspondents waiting at the airfield not to see Mr. Brooke for two minutes after his arrival so that Mr. Brooke could be warned not to speak to the press. The official hinted that Mr. Brooke would be arrested if he broke the order. The Malaya Tribune quotes an earlier statement from the Governor-General’s office that Mr. Brooke would not be gagged. “Perfectly Legal”

When questions were raised in the House of Commons as to whether the banning of Mr. Brooke’s visit to Sarawak was not an infringement of an individual’s right, Mr. Creech-Jones, Under-Secretary to the Colonial Office, said the procedure adopted was perfectly legal. Mr. Brooke had sought to overthrow the constitutional Government in Sarawak. He added: “The urgent need is that reconstruction should continue and the people should not be faced with another constitutional problem.” Mr. W. Teelir.g gave notice that he would raise the matter of the Government’s refusal to allow Mr. Brooke to enter Sarawak. Mr. Winston Churchill gave notice that when Parliament reassembled the Opposition would ask for an opportunity to move a vote of censure. Mr. Herbert Morrison: What are we to be censured for? Mr. Churchill: I shouldn’t attempt to draft the motion at this moment, but tyranny, conceit and incompetence would be the substance of it.