GOVERNMENT GOODWILL MISSION TO INDONESIA (Statement by the Chief Minister)

The Chief Minister (Mr D. S. Marshall): Mr Speaker, Sir, I would like, with your indulgence, to make a statement on the goodwill mission to Indonesia.

Mr Speaker: By all means, Mr Chief Minister.

The Chief Minister: Hon. Members of the House are aware that from the outset of our existence, it has been our desire to send a goodwill mission to Indonesia to clear away what one newspaper called "the cobwebs of suspicion and antagonism" that have existed and accumulated in the past few years between us. We naturally had our trade relations in mind, for in seeking our basic aim to improve the standard of living of the people of this territory, we must be ever watchful to improve the general prosperity of the island. The inspiration for the goodwill mission, however, Sir, went well beyond the question of trade.

If the principal objective of the people of this territory - independence - is to have any real meaning, we must now seek to lay the foundations of friendly relations which will transform our immediate neighbours into our allies of tomorrow. We recognise the fundamental truth that it will be possible for us to survive and prosper as an independent political entity only if we have the active and full and friendly support of our neighbours and the British Commonwealth of Nations.

Although the Rendel Constitution does not permit this Government an active part in foreign affairs, we, the elected Government of the people of Singapore, consider it our duty to lay the foundation today for the foreign policy of tomorrow, with the full knowledge of Her Majesty's Government, from whom we have received every assistance in pursuing our policy of seeking closer friendly relations with our neighbours

It is in the context of this desire on the part of the people of Singapore to initiate close and friendly relations with its neighbours, that it was natural that our first thoughts turned to Indonesia, our closest neighbour and the first territory in this part of the world to achieve independence.

Thanks to the tireless efforts of the Indonesian Consul-General in Singapore, Dr. Hermen Kartowisastro, and to the receptive attitude of the Indonesian Government, we received an invitation to send a goodwill mission to Indonesia between the 9th and 14th September.

I think I should add that we kept the Federation Government fully informed and, although because of the manifold matters it had to deal with on taking office it could not accept the suggestion of sending a full mission jointly with us, the Federation Government sent an observer and its blessings and good wishes.

In Djakarta, in Bandoeng and in Palembang the Singapore goodwill mission was received with full honours and every courtesy. The honour shown us was an expression of the feelings of friendship of the great Indonesian nation towards its young neighbour on the threshold of joining the brotherhood of Asian nations. As the Minister for Foreign Affairs, His Excellency Ide Anak Agoeng Gde Agoeng, put it:

"Indonesia is glad to welcome the first Chief Minister of Singapore, a son of Singapore, leading the first elected Government of Singapore.

We are such close neighbours that we can almost see each other from our windows, and I assure you that we have watched the course of development in the next house with great interest and much sympathy. We, who have already travelled the road to freedom, now see Singapore taking the first long step in the same direction, and it is our sincere hope that the journey will be continued and successfully concluded. We hope that in the not too distant future Singapore will join the ranks of those who are in control of their destinies.

We have to consider from now how to lay the foundations for a close political and cultural relationship. One of the unexpected advantages of independence is that those who are independent can choose their own friends. We, in Indonesia, are doubly fortunate that in our closest neighbour we have also a good friend."

Hon. Members are perhaps aware of the measure of agreement achieved by the goodwill mission. This was incorporated in a joint communique issued on the 12th of September, and it contained nine points which I shall read:

"1. A full Economic Mission (jointly with the Federation of Malaya, if they so desire) will be welcomed by the Indonesian Government in December 1955.

2. A working party will be sent by the Government of Singapore (jointly with the Federation of Malaya, if they so desire) in the first half of October this year for the purpose of: -

(a) arranging the venue and date for a full Economic Mission; and

(b) drafting the agenda of all subjects to be discussed.

3. The Indonesian Government announced: -

(a) in clarification of their new Import Regulations, that there will be no discrimination against imports from Singapore, including textiles;",

and, incidentally, Sir, the same was declared in respect of our neighbouring island, Hongkong.

"(b) a temporary relaxation, at the urgent request of the Singapore goodwill mission, of the ban on export of slab rubber from Sumatra, to take effect as soon as the details are worked out by the working party. This relaxation is without prejudice to a completely new approach by the Economic Mission; and

(c) that the matter of importation of dried fish from Singapore is being sympathetically considered in the context of Indonesia's obligations vis-a-vis other neighbouring countries. Details will be discussed by the working party.

4. The Singapore Goodwill Mission announced that it will sympathetically consider the question of reimbursement in Malayan dollars for Indonesian fish and timber imported into Singapore, and of transport facilities for fish caught in Indonesian waters, and will authorise the working party to work out details.

5. The Singapore Goodwill Mission reiterated its assurance of full co-operation in establishing and maintaining normal, healthy trade relations.

6. The Singapore Goodwill Mission, recognising the basic importance of the payments problem to Indonesia and the part that a favourable solution can play in stimulating trade between the respective countries, will examine at an early date the means to achieve a mutually acceptable solution.

7. The Indonesian Government would welcome the appointment of a Trade Commissioner to Indonesia at an early date to maintain the goodwill achieved during the recent talks and to serve as a permanent liaison between the respective governments."

I would add, Sir, that he was not referring entirely to trade.

"8. The Singapore Goodwill Mission stressed the importance of closer relationships in the cultural and educational spheres.

9. The Singapore Goodwill Mission expressed its deep appreciation of the very friendly spirit and the generous hospitality with which it has been received by the Indonesian Government."

We went to Indonesia without expecting anything more than to establish a friendly climate for an Economic Mission and it is entirely due to the goodwill of the Indonesian Government that we have come back with an agreement so full of promise for our future relations. One concession of the Indonesian Government symbolises the goodwill and the friendship of Indonesia towards Singapore.

The export of slab rubber from Sumatra is prohibited because of two reasons. Sumatra has a number of modern factories which are quite capable of coping with the slab rubber production. The Indonesian Government wishes to discourage the production of slab rubber in order to encourage the production of the far more profitable sheet rubber. Nevertheless, when we pointed out that the ban on export of slab rubber meant the unemployment of thousands of our workers, the Indonesian Government, basing itself on a policy of the desirability of helping a neighbour in time of need, assured us that it would relax, though temporarily, the ban in order to assist us. I know no more dramatic gesture to express the goodwill of Indonesia to the people of Singapore.

I should like, in this House, as one privileged to be the chief elected representative of the people, to express to the Indonesian Government the deep appreciation of the people of Singapore for the reception accorded to the goodwill mission and the friendship that Indonesia has shown towards Singapore. We who went to Indonesia as a goodwill mission from Singapore have come back as a mission full of goodwill for Indonesia. I should like to repeat here what is important to them, the assurance I gave, that the cornerstone of our policy will be a sincere desire for close, friendly and cultural relations and co-operation in the maintenance of healthy legitimate trade relations. Singapore seeks to serve its neighbours as an honest broker, an open market place, and a catalyst of commerce.

There is one thing more I would like to add, Sir. The House will perhaps be pleased to learn that there is every possibility that the Federation of Malaya will accept our suggestion that the working party and the Economic Mission should be on a full Pan-Malayan basis.