ATOMIC WAR-HEADS AND ROCKET SITES IN SINGAPORE

[Mr SPEAKER in the Chair]

Mr David Marshall asked the Prime Minister whether the Government will ascertain from the United Kingdom Government if any atomic war-heads are stored in Singapore and whether there are any atomic rocket sites in Singapore, and the extent of the potential danger to the people through accident.

The Prime Minister (Mr Lee Kuan Yew): Sir, I have sought the information asked for by the Member for Anson from the U.K. Commissioner. He has written to say that this question relates to matters of defence which under the Constitution is the responsibility of the British Government, and that it is not the practice in the United Kingdom, in answer to such questions to confirm or deny the presence of nuclear weapons at particular places.

A point worth noting is that under the Communist proposals for full internal self-government with the Internal Security Council abolished, defence and foreign affairs will continue to be in the hands of the British.

However, after independence through merger, defence will be in the hands of an elected government of the new and larger Federation, and members of the Central Parliament will be able to ask questions on matters of defence with more authority.

Mr David Marshall (Anson): Does the Prime Minister recognise that it is not a question of locality, but a question of our entire State? The issue whether these atomic war-heads are in this State affects the safety and the survival of our people. Surely, from that point of view, we are entitled to have some information in order to make some preparation for possible accidents.

Mr Speaker: Order. The Member for Anson is now embarking on a debate. The Prime Minister has indicated his responsibilities, and I do not know whether he wishes to add to that.

The Prime Minister (Mr Lee Kuan Yew): Mr Speaker, Sir, I can only say that there are illustrious examples in the United Kingdom in the Committee of One Hundred. If the Member for Anson feels sufficiently strong about this matter of war heads being stored, as he suspects, either in the Naval Base or Changi, or wherever else the launching pads may be, he is not without precedent in this matter. The Government has always been more than ready and willing to allow all methods of peaceful persuasion and demonstration.

Mr David Marshall: Mr Speaker, Sir, I seem to have been misunderstood. I am inquiring from the Prime Minister whether he has considered the aspects of possible accidents which will affect the safety and the survival of the people and, from that point of view, seek information of a general character indicated.

The Prime Minister (Mr Lee Kuan Yew): In my somewhat rudimentary knowledge of the law of nuclear physics, I am convinced that accidents arise not in the bomb accidentally being exploded in the storehouse, but more, I believe, in a war being launched accidentally through misjudgment of each other's determination to resist. In that eventuality, Mr Speaker, Sir, the Member for Anson's safety and mine are similarly imperilled and I can only say that if we do not sleep well o'nights, then we shall all be very sick men indeed. It is a very sick world, Mr Speaker, Sir, and I do not wish to inflict upon the people of Singapore the deep horrors of gradual extinction in a nuclear fallout or of total annihilation in a nuclear holocaust -

Mr David Marshall: What are you doing?

The Prime Minister (Mr Lee Kuan Yew): Mr Speaker, Sir, I have suggested to the Member for Anson the illustrious examples of great philosophers like Bertrand Russell and other equally eminent and philosophic gentlemen. All that is required is sufficient verve, vitality and persistence through methods of democratic persuasion to bring home the misfortunes of having to be involved with deterrent weapons of destruction.