SINGAPORE BASE

Hokitika Guardian, 15 August 1927, Page 4

SINGAPORE BASE

A STBOXG ADVOCATE. WKUJXGTOX, Aug. 12. Six secret clauses in Japan’s famous twenty-one demands of HUB to China were referred to in the House of Representatives to-day by Mr T. Ai. Wilford (Ilutt) in the course of a vigorous defence of the Singapore Base. By liis exposition of the ease for the Base, Air Wilford held the attention oi members, but be was listened to with even closer attention when be announced that while the clauses were known to tlx* secret coiincii's of the world they bad never before been made) public.'

“ TTie world knew what the ill demands were, but at the time no one know that six seeret clauses were attached to thorn, *” declared ATr Wilford. These clauses wore:— 1. The Chinese Government shall employ influential Japanese advisors in all its political, financial, and military affairs. 2. Japanese churches, hospitals, and schools in the interior of China shall bo granted tbe right to own "l’and. •k Inasmuch as the Japanese and Chinese Governments have had maindisputes through police differences, which have caused a great, deal of misunderstanding, it, is important that the police departments in the chief centres shall be administered by Japanese, or that a great number of Japanese shall lie employed.

" China will purchase from Japan a fixed amount of munitions of warevery year, say, fifty per cent, or more, to meet her requirements, or failing the purchase of munitions, she shall agree to the establishment of a ChinoJapane.se arsenal. Ihe two final clauses, which were

quoted by Mr Wilford. sought, he said, t> give Japan tiie right to build strategic railways in one of the provinces, and to make it obligatory for China to consult Japan first before she went about the raising of money for railway and harbour works in one of the sea coast provinces. Chose six secret clauses were stronger in their contemplated effect than the Austrian ultimatum to the Serbians. - ’ -aid Mr Wilford. They have never been published before, but the Amerieans lound them out and circulated them throughout the secret embassies of the world, with the result that China was strengthened in her determination to refuse to accept the demands. A sequel was the tense feeling that obtained between Japan and America for some time.” Although he made no seeret of his belief that it was neecssary to guard against Japanese aspirations, Mr Wilford denied that the construction of the Ring apore Ihtse was a breach of I faith with that country. ,l Singapore is as far from Japan as Boston is from Plymouth.” he said. “ and it might as well he advanced that any action Britain may take in fortifying Plymouth is an unfriendly act towards America. Our best naval advisers have • Said the base is essential to give mobility to our fleet, and if anything '

happens to our domination over India, and we lose control over tile Indian Ocean, it would be Iho end of our Empire. We cannot strengthen Hong Kong because we hold it only on lease, and any action there would be against the Washington Treaty. It has been said that the Base is being built in the absence of any aggressive nation. But what lias happened in Japan during the past twenty years? In that time she has risen from nothing to a first-class nation. She is militaristic to a degree and the Diet has no control over her military or naval expenditure, or in committing the nation to war. That is done by tlm lords, who come in through the hack door to see the Mikado.”

Mr Wilford added that the Japanese had steadily moved south into UlO .Malayan Archipelago, and Japanese owned the land surrounding the wireless station at Singapore, and also the plateau dominating the entrance to the strait.