Your telegram 319. [1]

This suggestion was first made public in a Press Conference given
in March by Rees-William, Under-Secretary for the Colonies, who
gave it as his own conception of what the long-term United Kingdom
policy should be. It roused very little enthusiasm amongst local
Asian leaders, and the Administration realised this.

2. Nothing is known here of any further developments. The
Commissioner-General's Office has no confirmation to offer, but
MacDonald's Principal Assistant adds unofficially that this is
scarcely remarkable as they have had absolutely no information
whatever from London regarding Commissioner-General's activities
there.

3. Some political gesture just now is very likely as MacDonald has
spoken of the need for it frequently in recent weeks. It seems to
us very doubtful, all the same, whether it would be of this major
variety.

4. MacDonald arrives here on Saturday?