Camera lights flashed as Raja strode into Paya Lebar airport on 16 September 1965. He was about to embark on his historic mission to the United Nations in New York as Singapore's founding foreign minister. For the first time since assuming the post, he looked the part. He cut a distinguished figure in a dark tailored suit, a crisp white shirt and well-knotted tie, accented by a pressed white handkerchief in his suit breast pocket.

A throng of supporters lined up to greet him with cheers, flower garlands and banners wishing him “Godspeed” and “Bon Voyage”. Flashing a beaming smile, he stopped to shake their hands. Aware of the public hopes pinned on his mission, he radiated a confidence that suggested all would be well despite the troubles of the moment.

He told the press: “This is the first effort by the Singapore government as an independent and sovereign country to put itself on the map of the world.” Then, in a pointed message to countries that had yet to recognise Singapore, he outlined two guiding principles for the proper conduct of relations between countries: “Do not ask us to take your friends as our friends. Do not expect us to take your enemies as our enemies.” He stressed: “Once relations between two countries were established on this basis, there is a chance that we may strengthen our ties and improve relations.”

Despite his brave face, many fears followed him. He boarded the plane with the heavy knowledge that, to date, only about 40 countries had individually recognised the newly formed nation – barely a third of the UN membership. Meanwhile, Indonesia was persisting in its hostile campaign to isolate Singapore from the Afro-Asian countries, portraying it as an Anglo-American imperialist stooge. At one point in late August, the path for UN membership had appeared so fraught with risks for Singapore that Raja had to consider the prospect of dropping it.

In a sign of Singapore's continuing troubles, the Commonwealth had not admitted Singapore into its fold – at least not yet. Commonwealth membership carried some weight as a badge of international legitimacy and respectability, particularly in Africa. Raja formed a suspicion, which he shared with British diplomat J.V. Rob on 16 August, that “Indonesian intrigues might be delaying matters”.