Nelson Evening Mail THURSDAY, JULY 18, 1929 SINGAPORE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIII, 18 July 1929, Page 4

Nelson Evening Mail THURSDAY, JULY 18, 1929 SINGAPORE

THE publication of the figures in connection with the expenditure on the Singapore Base and the extensive commitments already made in relation, to that work, place the new British Government in a dilemma. Out of £1,830,364 already spent, it transpires that Britain lias contributed only £200,000; the balance being paid by New Zealand, Australia, and Malaya; and it would appear that contracts to between 5 and 4 million sterling have been let. So that, to keep its election pledge to stop work on the Base, would not only cause Britain to incur the loss of millions in compensation, but would create between the other contributing States and the British Government a very unhappy position. Now, New Zealand Malaya, and Australia have not paid their money without full consideration of substantial benefit which they hope to attain thereby. That benefit is the additional protection which the Navy of the Empire will be able to give them by the completion of the Ease. Without the Base no first-class capital ships, such as the Hood and the Repulse, could re main long in Far Eastern, waters, or

I take part in prolonged or major operations in those waters. So that the protection of British interests in the Western Pacific would depend upon small vessels such as can he docked and repaired at the already existing naval Stations in New Zealand, Australia and Far Eastern waters, or upon existing treaties of peace which the Empire may have made with other Powers. There was a. time when the protection of the Empire was solely the concern of Britain, because she solely contributed the money, the warships, the sailors and the troops necessary for that protection. But the times have changed, for today the States of the outer Empire are in a position to contribute substantially to the Empire’s defence. They so contributed during the Great War. They are so contributing in the matter of tho Singapore Base, and plainly the question of whether or no that Base shall be completed does not rest solely with Mr Ramsay MacDonald’s Socialist Government, the more especially as doubtless i tlie; construction of the Base, was one of the subjects discussed and agreed upon at the last Imperial Conference. Therefore the arresting or modifying of the construction does not rest simply with ! Mr MacDonald and his colleagues, but j with the Governments ol all tho contributory States concerned, for that reaj son, when the matter is referred to the ' New Zealand Government, as in all

fairness it must be, it is 1o he hoped that tlu; British Government will be advised that, this country expects the Base to lu; completed, since without il this and other adjacent British territories would lack adequate facilities lor naval protection.