Malaya Battalion

Methodist Church And The Malaya Battalion

Prom Our Own Correspondent

Suva, Jan. 6.

THE Methodist Church, to which 90 per cent, of the Fijian people belong, has made no secret of its misgivings over the sending of Fijian troops to Malaya; but has so far made no official

pronouncement.

This official silence has led to criticism among Europeans who say the Church should have made a clear-cut pronouncement.

However, the Church was placed in a delicate situation when the announcement that the Ist Battal ion was to go to Malaya for two years was sprung on the Colony as a fait-accompli in October, That announcement leaned heavily on the message of loyalty sent to the King bv the Council of Chiefs in 1950.

To declare opposition to the Government’s offer of active Fijian support against the King’s enemies would, in Fijian eyes, have ranged

the Fijian Methodist Church against a decision made by Great Britain and Fiji in the name of the King.

It is believed that the Methodist Church in Fiji has protested against the move to the Colonial Office, presumably through the Government of Fiji. The Church fully appreciates the dangers of Malaya’s situation, but is believed to have pointed out the serious effect on the Fijians of the with drawal of many hundreds of their most promising young men, at a critical time in their economic,, political and social history.