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More Fragile Than a Rose

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Man is harder than iron, stronger than stone and more fragile than a rose.

-Turkish proverb

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CIA Declassified: Geographic Intelligence Memorandum - Malaysia

Introduction The federation of Malaysia* was formally inaugurated on 16 September 1963. Comprised of Malaya, Singapore, Sarawak, and Sabah (North Borneo), it has a total land area of about 129,000 square miles (slightly larger than the state of New Mexico) and a total population of more than The area and population of the individual components are as follows: Malaya and Singapore are the more advanced components of Malaysia. Malaya, with a relatively cosmopolitan elite of wealthy Chinese, Indian, and Malay businessmen, has the highest per capita income in Southeast Asia; it is the world's leading producer of natural rubber and tin. Singapore, whose population is 75 percent Chinese, is the major entrepôt port in Southeast Asia. Sarawak and Sabah, on the other hand, are characterized by their relatively underdeveloped economies and their very diversified populations, large segments of which are primitive tribal peoples. In all the components the population is characterized by its r

CIA Declassified: Current Situation in Malaya

17 November 1949 SUMMARY Primarily, Malaya is of importance to the US because it is the world's greatest producer of rubber and tin. In 1948 Malaya produced almost half of the total world production of natural rubber and more than a third of the world production of tin. World War II brought forcibly to US attention the importance of these vital commodities to a war-making machine; they retain their importance, if less urgently, in time of peace, and are on the lists of strategic materials designated for US stockpiling. Through the rubber and tin industries, Malaya is the sterling bloc's biggest dollar-earner. As such, Malaya's economic position materially affects that of the UK in the Western Alliance and thus affects ERP and other US financial commitments in Europe. Of secondary but considerable importance are Singapore's extensive naval facilities and strategic location on world shipping lanes. Control of the Malayan peninsula, and especially th

CIA Declassified: Resistance of Thailand, Burma, and Malaya to Communist Pressures in the Event of an Early Communist Victory in Indochina

SECRET Problem To assess the will and ability of Thailand, Burma, and Malaya to resist Communist political and military pressures in the eventnnof an early Communist victory in Indochina. SCOPE This paper will examine political, psychological, and military conditions in Thailand, Burma, and Malays in order to determine (a) to what extent these countries would be willing and able to resist political and indirect military pressures that would result from the establishment of Communist control in Indochina; (b) their capabilities for repelling actual military attack; (c) the possibilities for concerted action among them; and (d) the effect on these countries of large-scale employment of Chinese Communist armed forces in Southeast Asia, (Refer to Terms of Reference for NIE 20 issued by the Central Intelligence Agency 17 January 1951; only sections allocated to State/OIR are treated below.) QUESTIONS BEARING ON THE PROBLEM I. WHAT WOULD BE THE EFFECT IN THAILAND OF A COMMUNIST VICTORY IN

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