TRIBUTE ABDUL - Perdana Library

FRANK SULLIVAN
in their conversation after the speeches that the German Protocol
officers were manifestly worried because the dinner was lasting half
an hour longer than expected, and there were hundreds of important
guests waiting outside for the official State Reception. It was a
most enjoyable evening in that famed hotel overlooking the winding
Rhine, and ending past mid-night.
T should like to mention finally that the German Government
has almost completed a colour film of our Prime Minister's visit,
and it is expected that this will be shown in Malaya in the near
future.
After the long distances and expanse of West Germany, it
was a great contrast to spend three and a half days in small and
compact Belgium. The Belgians set themselves out to show the
Tunku as much as possible in that short time of their industry,
culture and way of life. Only about the size of South Malaya,
and with two million more people than the Federation, it is an
economic hub of Europe and highly industrialised. The highlights
of the tour were the great port of Antwerp, the vast Fabrique
Nationale small arms plant near Liege, a tour of the beautiful residential
resort of Le Zoute and the artistic splendours of the ancient city
of Bruges and a formal Luncheon with his Majesty King Baudouin
at the Royal Palace. The young King impressed us very much. He
had a long conversation with the Tunku both before and during
luncheon, and showed a keen and lively interest in relations
between Belgium and Malaya. Sociable and well-informed, he
made a particular point of speaking with each member of the Malayan
mission, after luncheon.
There were no full-dress formal talks in Brussels as the object
of the visit was to enable the Tunku to get an all round picture of
Belgium. I have not referred in detail to any official speeches made
during the Tunku's visit to Europe, but the speech of the Belgian
Prime Minister, M. Eyskens, is typical of the many tributes paid to
Malaya and the Tunku. He said on the eve of the independence of
the Congo Belgium was looking at Malaya's splendid achievements
with increased interest. He particularly praised "two very
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