SINGAPORE BASE.

Hokitika Guardian, 19 March 1924, Page 3

SINGAPORE BASE.

[Reuters Telegrams.] THE FINAL DECISION. LONDON, March 17. The “Daily Telegraph’s’’ Party correspondent says :—The Cabinet took final decision regarding the Singapore Rase question, so Lord Chelmsford and Mr Ammon will announce on Tuesday that the scheme has been abandoned. They will disclose that communications on the subject have been received from th Dominion Governments. The paper says:—Australia and New Zealand, as might he expected, declare themselves wholeheartedly in favour of going on with the work. Canada, however, is lukewarm, while South Africa is against the enterprise. The statement will show that the present facilities wifi be maintained at Singapore. The oil storage facilities there will lie considerably developed, necessitating an addition of two hundred thousand pounds in the new estimates.

The Opposition intend to attack the Government’s decision regarding Singapore with great vigour. CONSERVATIVES WILL RESEME PROJECT. (Received this day at 10.10 a.m.) LONDON, March IS. In tho Commons .Mr Ammon stated tho Government had dropped the Singapore scheme. Colonel Amcry said the Conservatives, wliou they came into power, would lose no time in instantly resuming the project. the Lords a motion was passed by fifty six to nineteen disagreeing with the abandonment of the Singapore Base.

Lord Chelmsford summarised the Donlitiions’feroplies about. Singapore. Canada and Ireland preferred not to advise, while .Australia, New Zealand and Newfoundland urged the construction of the lia.se. South Africa-approved of an Imperial policy conducive to peace.