The Guardian (And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times.) TUESDAY, APRIL Ist, 1924. THE PACIFIC.

Hokitika Guardian, 1 April 1924, Page 2

The Guardian (And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times.) TUESDAY, APRIL Ist, 1924. THE PACIFIC.

There is of course sure to he much controversy anent the Singapore Base, and all that its development means. The position will be reviewed by many minds from various points of view and from knowledge variously acquired. Any authoritative information on the subject from any point of view will be welcomed always as a means of assisting to form sound public opinion. It is not sufficient that an atmosphere should be created by any one who advances his ideas from pro-conceived notions. In the matter of defence stern tacts have to he considered. History tells us on every blood-stained page that there is not any sentiment about the going to war. It is all a matter of force. So defence and a defensive system resolves itself into a matter of force, maintaining or otherwise so orderng the legions of defence that there will be a secure position. Tlie British Empire is far-flung. Its Pacific interests are remote from the Home centre, and it seems to be all the more reasonable to expect that the isolated and remote places should be impregnable so far as easy capture or domination by an enemy would he possible. As to the J?ncific and what it holds for Great Britain, writers and speakers are all busy now pointing out

much information. That which is first hand from a dose study of the international position, is welcome always, and so we turn to the comments of a reviewer in a recent publication on matters affecting the Pacific. He goes oil to say that it is a commonplace that •since the Great War the political centre of gravity has shifted to the Pacific, and “Watch tho Pacific!” by Mr E. George Marks is a survey of the situation in that ocean. .Mr Marks is impressed with the strength of Japan’s position, tho weakness of that of America, and the virtual defeucelossness of Australia. Australia has an enormous coast line to protect, a navy that has dwindled to vanishing point and a broken railway gauge which renders the speedy transport of troops impossible. America’s interests in the Pacific are very vulnerable. There is a strong base at Hawaii, hut is too far distant to ho very effective. Tho defences of tho Phippines are obsolete and -tlio group would fall to an assailant without striking a blow. Guam, though a naval station, is practically unfortified, and most remain so. Japan on the other hand i.s impregnable. She is guarded by a string of island groups. Elio has outposts in the Marshalls and Carolines although, it is true, by the Washington agreement these too may not he fortified. Air .Marks holds it to have been a “stupendous blunder’ oil the part of the Australian delegation to permit Japan to secure the mandate over these islands. Japan’s reward, he says, for her war service was far beyond her deserts. But it is difficult to see how the Australian delegation could have Prevented this. Again, when the British Empire as a whole acquired under mandate, Samoa, Nauru, German New Guinea, German E. Africa, German S. W. Africa, parts of Kamcroons and Togolatul, not to mention Palestine and Mesopotamia, it would have been very invidious to claim these islands as well, or fco object to their transfer to Japan. Moreover, it was an understood thine that the nation who occupied or gnrlisoned a German colony should hare tho mandate over it. Mr M ark s disposes of the fallacy, prevalent in some quarters, that the earthquake seriously impaired Japan’s naval power. He is a whole-hearted advocate of the Singapore base, and is convinced that it is essential to Australia’s safety, although alone if cannot ensure it. Austialia

mast contribute to its utility by strengthening her own licet. Mr Marks writes in a temperate vein, and quotes many weighty authorities in support of lus contentions. His object throughout is to warn Australians against allowing themselves to he lulled into a fuse sense of security.