Quotes For You

  Tin mining in Malaya under British rule. Photo: The internet The colonial era brought sweeping changes to Southeast Asia, particularly to the Malay States. The British, under the guise of administration and modernization, exploited the region's immense natural wealth, leaving a legacy of extraction and economic manipulation that shaped the future of the Malay States. When the British began their foothold in Malaya during the 19th century, they were primarily drawn by the region’s abundance of tin and later rubber. Tin was in high demand during the Industrial Revolution, and the Malay States were among the richest tin-producing regions in the world. British companies dominated the mining industry, employing a divide-and-rule strategy by importing Chinese laborers to work in tin mines, while sidelining the local Malay population from industrial opportunities. The profits flowed largely to Britain, while the Malay States saw little reinvestment into their communities. Rubber, introd...

  GENERAL 1.       Australian attitude toward Pacific defense pact -- US Embassy Canberra has been informed by Australian Minister of External Affairs Spender that his government desires to do everything possible to promote a Pacific pact which would include military commitments. In Spender’s view, however, no Pacific nation or group of nations can be expected to embark on a course which without US backing might prove “futile and even disastrous.” Spender believes that discussions at the forthcoming Baguio Conference (called by the Philippine Government) will be futile, because of the lack of support by Asian countries themselves and the absence of support from the US. EUROPE 2. GERMANY: Reform of German interzonal trade set-up urged -- The Berlin branch of the US High Commission in Germany believes that “the time has come for the Bonn Government to clean house” and remedy the unsatisfactory situation regarding German interzonal trade. The Berlin bra...

  NSC BRIEFING 17 March 1959 CHINESE ECONOMIC ACTIVITY IN SOUTHEAST ASIA I. Peiping began an economic drive in 1954 in Southeast Asia. Effects first really felt last year, but now, because of current pre-occupation with the "leap forward," moving ahead on its earlier momentum. Presents long-range threat of major implications for the position of the West in Southeast Asia. A. Chinese activity is dual-motivated: to make its growing power felt in Southeast Asia through economic relations, and to generate sterling, enabling China to finance West European goods essential to its own developmental program. II. China has a capability for a major trade assault which could disrupt several Southeast Asian economies. A. Rice sales to Southeast Asia, now totaling less than .005 percent of Chinese production, easily could be expanded with drastic effect on the economies of Burma and Thailand. B. Chinese rubber purchases, nearly 10 percent of Southeast Asian production, are shift...

  CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE GROUP INTELLIGENCE REPORT COUNTRY: Malaya SUBJECT: Possible Split in United Malays' National Organization ORIGIN: [REDACTED] DATE: 25X1A6a INFO.: [REDACTED] DIST.: 16 December 1946 PAGES: [REDACTED] SUPPLEMENT: 25X1X6 The Kuala Lumpur MALAYA TRIBUNE stated 17 Johore organizations presented an ultimatum to Dato Onn to either resign from the presidency of the United Malays' National Organization or to resign from the position of Premier of Johore. The paper stated acceptance of the position of Premier of Johore is unconstitutional as appointment to this position can be legally made only by the Sultan, who is not present in Johore. The same newspaper reported 20 Malay associations in Malacca had joined the Malay Nationalist Party in protest to the results of the recent conferences between the Sultans, the UMNO, and the Malayan Union Government. The conferences are said to have resulted in securi...

  24 May 1955 NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE ESTIMATE NUMBER 64-55 COMMUNIST PROSPECTS IN MALAYA AND BRITISH BORNEO Submitted by the DIRECTOR OF CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE The following intelligence organizations participated in the preparation of this estimate: The Central Intelligence Agency and the intelligence organizations of the Departments of State, the Army, the Navy, the Air Force, and The Joint Staff. Concurred in by the INTELLIGENCE ADVISORY COMMITTEE on 24 May 1955. Concurring were the Special Assistant, Intelligence, Department of State; the Assistant Chief of Staff, G-2, Department of the Army; the Director of Naval Intelligence; the Director of Intelligence, USAF; the Deputy Director for Intelligence, The Joint Staff. The Atomic Energy Commission Representative to the IAC and the Assistant to the Director, Federal Bureau of Investigation, abstained, the subject being outside their jurisdiction.   CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY DISSEMINATION NOTICE 1. This ...

  Photo: The internet Many Malaysians today may not be aware of a sinister plot by communist terrorists led by Chin Peng to sabotage the declaration of independence for Malaya. On August 20, 1957, Lieutenant Hassan Osman, a key military officer, played a crucial role in safeguarding Malaya’s stability in the run-up to independence. At that time, Platoon 12 of Company D from the 5th Royal Malay Regiment (RAMD) was tasked with monitoring the area under Company C, 6 RAMD in Rawang. Their mission was to conduct detailed reconnaissance of suspected communist activities, as there were fears of an ambush intended to disrupt the impending declaration of independence. Upon receiving vital intelligence, Lieutenant Hassan sought and was granted permission to undertake further investigation. He and his team proceeded to the Waterfall Rubber Estate, where communist activity had been reported. Their suspicions were confirmed—communist forces were indeed present. With careful planning, Lieutenant...

  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...