PACIFIC BASE

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 2713, 27 March 1924, Page 2

PACIFIC BASE

SINOA PORE A BAN DO NM ENT CONFIRMED.

London. "March 2f>. After a short hut important debate, the British Parliament confirmed the Government’s decision to abandon the Singapore base scheme, the voting being 257 to 211. Supporters claimed flu* decision was a “moral gesture" designed to create world-wide goodwill. The Liberal vote was split. VISCOUNT JELLICOK'S VIEWS. Viscount -lellicoe regrets exceedingly the Government’s decision and points out that the foremost naval authorities have stated that a modern fleet is unable to operate without a properly equipped base, and that for tiie protection of the portions of the Empire situated in the Pacific and radian Oceans there is ue place so suitable as Singapore. The matter intensely concerns Australia, India, and New Zealand and a number of the Crown Colonies, who are looking to the present British Government to remember that every citizen in every country of the Empire is entitled to protection from the possibility of attack by a foreign foe. Singapore is wanted for defensive purposes and is no more a threat to the Japanese than Gibraltar is to tiie United States. .New Zealanders hoped that the lesson of the sufferings of the Navy and Mercantile Marine in the Pacific in wartime would not so quickly he forgotten. The very existence of the Empire depends on the Navy. An eminent authority had declared that unless a hasc like Singapore was established it would be absolutely impossible for the majority of the Empire’s capital ships to operate east of Suez.

MR MASSEY’S PROTEST. Wellington. Last Night. Mr Massey, in his reply ou behalf if the Government, forwarded through the Governor-General to the Prime Minister of Great Britain, regarding the British Government’s action in abandoning work on the Singapore base, says:— “I regret exceedingly that it is not proposed to proceed with what 1 looked upon as one of the most important, proposals • cnnected with the defence of the Empire. Naval authorities are agreed that a mot dern fleet cannot operate without a properly equipped base. In their opinion no place is so suitable for the protetion of that portion of the Empire situated in the Indian and Pacilic Oceans as Singapore.

“Singapore is for defensive not offensive purposes. The establishment of a naval base there would be no more a threat to Japan than Gibraltar is a threat to America or any other Power.

“The New Zealand Government last session voted £IOO,OOO as an earnest of its anxiety that the foriideation of Singapore should be proceeded with. We will not stop at. that.”

in reply to Mr MacDonald’s statement that his “Government stands for international co-operation through a strengthened and enlarged League of Nations," Air Massey

“If the deTence of the Empire is to depend upon the League of Nations only, then it may turn out to have been a pity that the League was ever brought into being. The wry existence of the Empire depends upon the Imperial Navy. If, in the event of war, the Navy is to operate successfully, we must have suitable bases." “Uu behalf of New Zealand I protest earnestly against the proposal lo make (Singapore a strong safe naval station being abandoned because k believe that as long as Britain holds the supremacy of the sea the Empire will stand, but if Britain loses her naval supremacy the Empire may fall to the detriment, uot only of its own people, hut of humanity as a whole. It is surely the duty of the British. Ministry and tlie British Parliament to see that so far as it is humanly possible to prevent it, there will be tie danger of such a catastrophe.” N.Z. LABOUR PARTY'S MESSAGE 'The National Executive of the New Zealand Labour Party has sent the following cable message to Mr Ramsay MacDonald; —“New Zealand Labour Party heartily congratulates your Government on dropping Singapore scheme. —X. Brindic, President; YV. Nash, Secretary; 11. E. Holland, Chairman Parliamentary Labour Party.”