34.
asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what changes are proposed in the powers of the Commissioner-General for South-East Asia.
I am not in a position to give a final reply, but the alterations which I have in mind are designed only to give a clearer definition of his existing functions in so far as they fall within the responsibility of the Colonial Office.
In one of his speeches in Malaya the right hon. Gentleman said that certain barnacles had attached themselves to this office. Could he tell us what barnacles he had in mind and which he proposed to get rid of?
Additions were made to Mr. MacDonald's original terms of reference, which seemed to imply that he had responsibilities in a field in which, indeed, he does not have any, and in fairness to him I think it is very necessary that this ambiguity should be cleared up.
May I ask for an assurance that nothing is going to be done to diminish the functions of Mr. MacDonald?
I cannot give that assurance in those terms, but nothing fundamental will be altered.
Would the Colonial Secretary bear in mind that the policy of the Commissioner-General and the late Sir Henry Gurney of promoting political development on the basis of racial co-operation is of vital importance to the future of Malaya and should be maintained?
I fully realise its importance. I think the second part of the right hon. Gentleman's supplementary is designed to ask whether Mr. MacDonald is going to stay or not?
No.
I beg the right hon. Gentleman's pardon.
In the second part of my supplementary I asked whether it is the Government's policy to promote colonial development on the basis of racial co-operation, and whether that would be maintained?
I really do not know how often it is necessary to re-state this thing. I have done it on numerous occasions and I do so now.
Was the right hon. Gentleman's anxiety to remove ambiguities related to the fact that he tried to get Field-Marshal Montgomery to take on the job?