My telegram 622.

Hostile reaction here upon the reported decision to deport 14
Malayans [1], is the most extreme we have yet had to face, and has
already largely undone the goodwill towards Australia of the local
Asian population resulting from our initiative in supporting the
Indonesian Republic. It is particularly regrettable from our point
of view, that, as the result of this incident the Malayans are now
added to the Chinese and Indians in the resentment of the implied
race discrimination. This morning I received deputations of the
Presidents of the Malay Union (an Association of Malay political
bodies) and Malay Seamen's Union who told me that they had
proposed calling mass meetings of protest. On my assurances that I
was communicating with you on the subject, they have agreed to
postpone action for the time being. They assured me however, that
unless a satisfactory explanation is forthcoming, it will be
impossible to restrain the Left wing of their own or other
associations from precipitate and inflammatory action.

2. I learned from an Australian here with excellent Malay contacts
that apart from the foregoing, Malay citizen bodies are preparing
joint representations to the Australian Government.

3. I am also doing my best to play down further press campaign but
the mischief has already been done. Local papers have assiduously
canvassed for opinions of local Malay leaders which are what one
might expect, and have been strongly expressed. One view, that 14
Australians should be deported from Malaya in retaliation, may
sound ridiculous, but has secured such support that it is only
being withheld from publication in at least one local paper
pending the outcome of advice referred to in para. 1. While the
full facts of the case are now known to us here, I would urge that
the possibility of repercussions such as these should always be
borne very much in mind when decisions are reached on deportation
of Asians, and the fact that these repercussions will become
increasingly dangerous should be regarded as certain.

If I may suggest it, I think it wiser from a long term point of
view to make judicious exceptions to the immigrant regulations
than give occasion to criticism of staff policy which may very
likely reach the United Nations Assembly. The Governor of
Singapore has already warned a member of my staff that he has
reason to believe that India may take the initiative in this
direction before long. Massey. [2]