“IF SINGAPORE FALLS TO COMMUNISTS, ALL S.E. ASIA WILL FALL”

Wanganui Chronicle, 13 November 1950, Page 5

“IF SINGAPORE FALLS TO COMMUNISTS, ALL S.E. ASIA WILL FALL”

AUCKLAND, Last Night (PA).— Singapore’s importance as a bastion against the Communist domination of South-East Asia was stressed by the Hon. P. F. Souza, a member of the Legislative Council of Singapore, who arrived by flying-boat in Auckland on Saturday. “Our geographical position is such that if Singapore falls to the Communists, then the whole of South-East Asia will fall,” he said. "We are very concerned about defence measures against the spread of Communism. “The advance of the Communist-in-spired forces in French Indo-Chlna is of vital concern to Singapore. Although experts in Malaya believe that the terrorists in the Peninsula are not receiving material aid, such as arms and men, from Communist forces outside Malaya, the momentum of their terrorist activities in the Malay States and Singapore is directly inspired by Communist successes outside.

“At the commencement of the Korean campaign, when the Nortn Koreans were successful, there _ was a marked increase in terrorism in Malaya, but this died down when the United Nations' forces took the initiative. The Communist -’arty is outlawed in Malaya, but the terrorists in the jungle get news and advice by means of radio." Recent attacks on the Governor and attempts to assassinate public men in Singapore had led the Government to consider imposing strongest security precautions in the city, said the Hon de Souza. It was difficult for the police to track down the Communists in the city, which had a population of over 1,000,000 now. Trade in Singapore was booming at present, because of the world demand for rubber and tin, added the Hon de Souza. In spite of terrorist attacks on the mines and plantations, production of tin and rubber was higher than before the war and Singapore’s population was increasing daily as people came to the city to share in the business boom. The Hon. de Souza, who is a lawyer by profession, was educated at. 3.. Francis College, Malacca. He was admitted as a barrister of the Middle Temple, London, before the war. During the Japanese occupation of Malaya he moved from Singapore with other prominent, men and went into voluntary exile in the jungle.