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5. At the same time the views of the Sultan of Brunei are being sought.

6. In regard to defence matters it was decided that, in the event of the formation of the proposed Federation of Malaysia, the existing Defence Agreement between Britain and Malaya should be extended to embrace the other territories concerned. It was, however, agreed that the Goverment of the Federation of Malaysia will afford to the Government of the United Kingdom the right to continue to maintain bases at Singapore for the purpose of assisting in the defence of Malaysia, and for Commonwealth defence and for the preservation of peace in South—East Asia (The text of the arrangements agreed is attached at Annex B.

HAROLD MACMILLAN ABDUL RAHMAN."

The appointment of the Chairman and members of the Commission was announced by the British and Malayan Governments on the 16th January, 1962. Great Public interest had been aroused by Tunku Abdul Rahman's statement in May, and the Governments of North Borneo and Sarawak issued papers explaining the purpose of the Commission and setting out the idea of Malaysia in simple terms in order to assist people to understand the issues on which their views would be sought. There had been much discussion on the subject in the local Press which continued throughout our visit. The setting up of the Malaysia Solidarity Consultative Committee following a Commonwealth Parliamentary Association Regional Conference in Singapore in July 1961 also resulted in useful unofficial exchanges of views between representatives from Malaya, Singapore, North Borneo and Sarawak (including unofficial members of the Legislative Council and Council Negri), together with observers from Brunei. A copy of the committee's “ Memorandum on Malaysia ", dated 3rd February, 1962, was submitted for consideration by the Commission.

5. The chairman and British members of the Commission met the Malayan members in Singapore on the 18th February, and the whole Commission arrived at Kuching by air on the 19th February. We held our first full meeting the same afternoon, and began hearings in Kuching on the following day. Prior to our arrivaI, the Governments of North Borneo and Sarawak had made preparatory arrangements for our travel and accommodation in the two territories. Our Secretary had also visited Kuching and Jesselton during the preceding week.

6. All persons who wished to submit written memoranda to the Commission were invited to do so, In response to this invitation we received some 2,200 letters and memoranda (nearly 600 in North Bonteo and over 1,600 in Sarawak) from town boards, district councils, associations of many kinds, political parties, chambers of commerce, trade unions, religious leaders, members of executive and legislative councils, native chiefs and community leaders, and large numbers of individual members of the public. From these memoranda we obtained much valuable material and assistance.