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SECRET C.P.(56) 47 21st February, 1956

I attach at Annex A a copy of the agreed Report of the Conference on Constitutional Advance in Malaya, and at Annex B an extract from the Report of the General Purposes Committee of the Conference, as approved by the Conference in Plenary Session, containing material relating to the proposed Constitutional Commission which was not included in the Report of the Conference as a whole. The Report of the Conference contains a number of typographical and other minor errors which have been corrected for publication of the Report as a White Paper in, I hope, the next two to three weeks. I do not expect my colleagues to read these two documents in full, and I therefore also attach at Annex C notes upon those recommendations of the Conference to which I think it necessary expressly to draw their attention.

2.The Conference was undoubtedly a success. Its Report deals with all the issues which we set out to settle; and the conclusions and recommendations upon them are comprehensive and free from ambiguity. Agreement was reached on all points within the limits authorised by the Cabinet on 17th January (C.M.(56) 4th Conclusions, Minute 3). These agreements are far-reaching, but we had all recognised beforehand that it was right to go a long way in order to obtain an amicable settlement, and they include satisfactory safeguards for all our vital interests. The business of the Conference was throughout conducted in an atmosphere of goodwill and I have no doubt that the Malayan Delegation has returned to the Federation with feelings of genuine cordiality towards Her Majesty's Government and the British people. In a farewell letter to me Tunku Abdul Rahman, the Chief Minister, wrote:–

It is, above all, upon this goodwill and co-operation that we must in future depend for the security of British and Commonwealth interests in the Federation of Malaya.

3.I have already sent the High Commissioner a despatch asking him to convey the Report of the Conference to Their Highnesses the Rulers and to ask them to express their views upon it. The Conference of Rulers