First batch of American soldiers arrives for R&R

Immediately after Singapore gained independence on 9 August 1965, the government pursued a foreign policy of non-alignment to guard its sovereignty and reduce Singapore’s vulnerability as a young nation.^[1] This policy, however, did not detract Singapore leaders from being pragmatic in its relations with the United States of America (US). At the time, it was imperative for Singapore to depend on the economic superpower to ensure its economic survival. The Singapore government was cognizant of the fact that the flow of American trade and capital into Singapore was subject to cooperation and good relations with America.^[2] A major development that shaped Singapore's economic cooperation with the US was the Vietnam War. The war was a stimulant for the Singapore economy as the country became a supplier of goods for the US forces in South Vietnam. The war also brought in American tourist dollars as Singapore agreed to let off-duty US soldiers use the island for their R&R (Rest and Recreation) leave.^[3]

The opening of Singapore’s recreational facilities to US soldiers was an early step at fostering US-Singapore ties.^[4] The agreement was reached in March 1966, following a two-day visit to Singapore by William Bundy, then Assistant Secretary of State for Far Eastern Affairs.^[5] In late March that same year, the first group of about 100 American officers arrived in Singapore to spend their R&R leave as ordinary tourists.^[6] The first American R&R centre, Shelford House, was located at Shelford Drive, off Adam Road. As more soldiers arrived, other R&R centres soon opened – Serene House (Farrer Road), Newton Towers (Gilstead Road) and the Country Club Hotel (Upper East Coast Road).^[7] Overall, there was no strong opposition in Singapore to the frequent presence of American soldiers on vacation on the island,^[8] and the soldiers’ spending created a general boom in the country.^[9] The Singapore government, however, had a strict policy regarding the publication of any information on Singapore’s response to the Vietnam War, including its R&R programme.^[10]

The American R&R programme in Singapore was discontinued in February 1970, following the decision by the US government to reduce its number of troops in South Vietnam.^[11] The open reception to Americans in Singapore during the country's R&R programme formed the basis for closer ties between the two nations in subsequent years, especially when the British were preparing to withdraw its military forces from Singapore.^[12]

References
1. Musitelli, D. (2007). The conduct of Singapore’s foreign policy during the Vietnam war 1965–1968 [dissertation] (pp. IV–V, 1–2). Retrieved April 28, 2014, from Scholarbank@NUS website: http://scholarbank.nus.edu.sg/bitstream/handle/10635/16226/MAHD.pdf?sequence=1
2. Musitelli, 2007, pp 15–16.
3. Ang, C. G. (2009). Singapore and the Vietnam war. Journal of Southeast Asian Studies, 40(2), 359–360. Retrieved April 28, 2014, from ProQuest Musitelli, 2007, pp 16, 40.
4. Musitelli, 2007, pp 24–25.
5. Musitelli, 2007, p. 24; Mr. Bundy flies in for talks with the Tengku. (1966, March 9). The Straits Times, p. 1; First wave American troops due for rest cure. (1966, March 13). The Straits Times, p. 11. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
6. 100 US troops in S’pore for rest. (1966, April 6). The Straits Times, p. 5. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
7. The Straits Times, 6 Apr 1966, p. 5; Cheong, Y. S. (1970, January 7). R-and-R: ‘Loss is of little consequence’. (1970, January 7). The Straits Times, p. 5. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
8. Musitelli, 2007, p. 5.
9. Musitelli, 2007, p. 72.
10. Ang, 2009, pp. 364–365.
11. Ang, 2009, p. 365; The Straits Times, 7 Jan 1970, p. 5; Big jump in tourists in July. (1970, September 24). The Straits Times, p. 17. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
12. Wilairat, K. (1975, June). Singapore’s foreign policy: The first decade (pp. 4–-44). Singapore: The Institute of Southeast Asian Studies. Call no.: RCLOS 327.5957.