SINGAPORE BASE.

Hokitika Guardian, 15 March 1924, Page 3

SINGAPORE BASE.

[Reuters Telkouams.] GOVE IIN AI ENT’S POI ACT. LONDON, March 13. In tho House of Lords, Lord ChelmsJoul, iu reply to Lord Curzon, announced that the Government hoped to lie able to make a statement of its policy regarding the Singapore scheme to.both Houses on. March 18. The Naval debate was adjourned. DOMINION VIEWS. LONDON, March 13. The -‘Daily Chronicle” understands (lie Australian and Indian replies insist that the Singapore decision must be carefully reviewed before the proposals are altered. Both urge the carrying out of the project in some form. MR BAbEOPR’S VIEWS. LONDON, -March 13. In the House of Lords, Lori! Ball our til get! that all the steps the Government took iu military and naval matters should be based on the principles of continuity. At first sight the Singapore project seemed inconsistent, if net with tiro letter with the Washington Treaty;, but he said ho could assure the House that everybody concerned with the Washington Treaty was perfectly aware that Singapore was excluded from the area where no new naval base could he constructed. The late Governmen'l'd policy was perfectly straiglitlorward and above hoard. A Singapore base would strengthen the defences of the Empire without threatening any rival putter, and there was nothing to arouse legitimate jealousies or to excite .tear. A modern Meet could not effectually operate too far trom its base. A fleet which had to go 31)00 miles to meet an equal fleet close to its base was really risking its existence. If, like prudent mol,, the statesmen in Australia, New Zealand ami India looked at tho map, they would ask: “Could the British licet help them unless it had R‘ rlivu'i base where it could refit and refuel.” Our brothers in Australia and New Zealand were proud of the Empire. They krew that, without the British licet in the background, their world positu n would he singularly insecure. Lord Balfour continued that the Dominions’ whole scheme of political thought depended on tho idea that they were not bound to Britain by legal constitutional ties, but by the fact that she was always prepared to employ every ounce of strength she possessed to proto :c them in ease of need. Every Australian and New Zealander nuts a ware tied if Britain refused to make Singapore am adequate base, the fleet would be immobile when sent to those remote latitudes, and a change of heart would necessaiily be produced among them. 'l'll,. Government was not merely risking the security of the Dominions. Imt halving the value of tho licet. A million a year, spent on Singapore would make the total expenditure of the Navy which was £55,000.000 effective: so this was a good business proposition.