Blueprint For New Dominion In Asia

Chronicle (Levin), 13 June 1949, Page 5

Blueprint For New Dominion In Asia

LONDON, June, 12. The political correspondent of* the Sunday newspaper The People, savs the British Cabinet has -given the Commis-sioner-General in Southeast Asia. Mr. Malcolm Macdonald, a "blueprint'.' for the futnre establishment of a new British Dominion in Southeast Asia to include Malaya, Singapore, Hong Kong, Sarawak and Borneo. "Mr. Macdonald 's immediate taslc is to lav the fonndations for a federation of these territories on which Dominion status will be conferred lafer. At the back of the plan is a warning by serviee chiefs that Honfr K*ong cannot be held for more than 90 days with existing supplies and forces. To safesuard Hong Kong it is therefore essential to have a major defence scheme worked out jointly by the Commonwealth nations and, if possible, the United States. The present snag to joint defence is India but if Hong Kong. Malaya and other territories are promised Dominion statns and with it the right to rule themselves, it is hoped Tndia will -join the united front against the Communist surge. "The directives Mr. Macdonald received from Cabinet also include an approach td Burma, Siam, the futnre United States of Tudonesia, Indo-China and possibly the pliilippines, to close the Pacific defence ring. "