Mr. Creech Jones:

The labour situation in South Kedah has been unsettled for several weeks, but the Governor tells me that it is improving. The wearing of uniforms and the drilling of groups of Indian labourers for the purpose, among other things, of intimidating labour on the estates has been a feature of the agitation in this area for some time. On 28th February the police came into conflict with a uniformed group numbering about 50o near Sungei Patani. There was rioting and 12 arrests were made and convictions followed. Police reinforcements were sent to the area affected. There were further incidents on 3rd March, as a result of which 63 persons were arrested. Sixty-one were convicted. One Tamil died of injuries received during the resistance to the police but there were no other fatal casualties and all the injured are progressing favourably. No disturbances have been reported since.

European women and children on the estates involved were advised by the police to leave temporarily. Shortage of rice has undoubtedly exercised an unsettling influence on all labour in Malaya, but I am advised that it was not an immediate cause of these disturbances. With my approval, the Governor has introduced legislation prohibiting the wearing of uniforms and illegal drilling, in order to assist in the prevention of similar occurrences in the future.