ALIENS PROMINENT IN FOMENTING REVOLT IN MALAYA

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22698, 24 July 1948, Page 5

ALIENS PROMINENT IN FOMENTING REVOLT IN MALAYA

(10 a.m.) LONDON, July 23. The Colonial Secretary, Mr. A. Creech Jones, said in the House of Commons that the Commis-sioner-General in Malaya had reported he was satisfied that the Malayan Communist Party had been mainly responsible for planning, arranging and carrying out the present violent attacks on the established Government and the campaign of murder of peaceful citizens.

The object was to declare a Communist state when a substantial area was obtained by ruthless violence. The Government agreed that the Malayan Communist Party and three other satellite bodies should be banned.

He said the Malayan Communist Party was the mainspring of the present disturbances and the nerve centre of the subversive movement. The three satellite parties were either engaged in active fighting or recruiting or' organising supplies. They had abused democratic rights by inciting revolution and attacks on individuals, villages, farms and isolated police stations. They were bandits and guerrilla bands. No Political Suppression

“We have no desire to suppress political opinion but there is no place _in ordered society for organisations which seek to obtain their ends by the murder of innocent people.” Captain L. D. Gammans asked whether the Government was warned of the plot and, if warned, did nothing about it.

Mr. Creech Jones replied it was easy to be wise after the event but the administration on the spot was trying to strengthen the police and meet the new situation.

Mr. W. Gallacher (Com.), denied there was any plot but only an open legitimate demand by the Malayan Communist Party for Malayan independence and “for the tin and rubber industries to be taken out of the hands of the imperialists who arc exploiting the people of Malaya.”

Not Working Class Movement

Mr. Creech Jones denied that this was a working class movement or a nationalist movement for independence. Aliens from outside and aliens in Malaya had fomented a great deal of the agitation. Earl Winterton asked whether the Government would see there _ was no communication between the British and Malayan Communist Parties. Mr. Creech Jones said that was a difficult question to answer in the House. The Government obviously took its responsibilities seriously. He added that there had been a considerable number of arrests in Malaya. It would be unwise on security grounds to state what reinforcements were intended for Malaya. There was no indiscriminate bombing of villages. Mr. Gammans asked if the Government was satisfied there were sufficient arms in Malaya.

“If so, why do we keep hearing of special requests to Australia?” he asked. Mr. Creech Jones replied that a supply of equipment, ammunition and the necessary weapons had been .flown into Malaya. Mr. Creech Jones added that all the local Government’s demands had been mot and at this moment, nothing more could be done because the local people were satisfied about their requirements.