PRIME MINISTER'S VISIT TO LONDON (Discussions with British Ministers)

Mr David Marshall asked the Prime Minister whether he will make a statement on his discussions with British Ministers on his recent trip to London.

The Prime Minister: Sir, in London, in May, I had discussions with the United Kingdom Prime Minister, the Commonwealth and Colonial Secretaries and the Minister of Defence on the arrangements to be made before merger for the transfer of responsibility for foreign affairs, defence and security to the Central Government of the new Federation on merger.

I had a useful exchange of views on a number of these subjects. As the House was not then sitting on the day of my return - 3lst May - I held a Press conference at which I think all relevant points were raised and answered. If there are any specific matters on which the Member for Anson desires further explanation, I shall enlarge on them in this House.

Mr David Marshall: Would the Prime Minister indicate whether there was any discussion as to the continuation of our bases for the utilisation of SEATO powers?

The Prime Minister: Sir, I would refer the Member for Anson to the statement which was issued after the meeting of the Federation Prime Minister and the Minister for the United Kingdom at which the status of the base was sufficiently and lucidly explained. I was only interested in one particular aspect with regard to the base - namely, the question of redundancy. I had some discussions with the Minister of Defence on the possibilities of maintaining the civilian employment for some time at its present level, and later, should there be cause for redundancy, of ensuring that there are adequate redundancy terms.

Mr David Marshall: Perhaps one more subject, if you will permit, Mr Speaker. Could the Prime Minister indicate whether any attempt was made to ask the United Kingdom Government to utilise its good offices in order to make more acceptable the proposed terms of our future relations with the Federation as contained in the Government's White Paper?

The Prime Minister: Sir, as I have explained before, the attitude of my Government is that merger is a matter between the peoples and the Governments of Singapore and the Federation of Malaya. It has nothing to do with the United Kingdom Government other than the fact that on merger they will have to transfer all responsibility for foreign affairs, defence and security to the Central Government of the new Federation. I would consider it not only improper but politically unprecedented to ask a colonial administration to try and intervene in what I consider to be a purely family matter within the Malayan nation.