SINGAPORE BASE

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12621, 4 December 1926, Page 5

SINGAPORE BASE

THE DOMINIONS CONSIDER IT ESSENTIAL, BUT—THEY HAVE MADE NO OFFER CONFERENCE’S DISCUSSION ON EMPIRE DEFENCE MADE PUBLIC Mr Baldwin at the Imperial Conference asked "the Dominions specially interested in the Par East” to consider what they could do to co-operate with Britain in the development of Singapore. None of them made an offer.

By Telegraph.—Brass Assn.—Copyright. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Received December 3, 7.5 p.m.) LONDON, December 2. The following speech, made by Mr Baldwin on Imperial defence at the Imperial Conference on October 26tth, was issued to-night. Mr Baldwin, at the outset stressed the rigid adherence of successive Governments to the advisory and consultative character of the committee on Imperial defence throughout all its developments. The elasticity of membership of the committee enabled the Dominions and India to take advantage of the facilities of the committee to any extent they desired. ‘‘They can,” he said, “accept, modify or reject its advioe. Opportunities for the personal association of representatives of the Dominions with the committee since the war have not been numerous, but the question of Imperial defence has been discussed in the greatest detail at Imperial Conferences, w'hich, indeed, provided an opportunity for taking stock of the committee’s work. “Apart from the personal attendance of Ministers, however, the association of the Dominions with the committee since the war has been considerable. At present there are 60 sub-committees, dealing with the coordination of fighting services and the auxiliary work of civilian departments generally. The whole of this is a great field of co-ordination by the Committee on Imperial Defence. I hope the Dominions and India will avail themselves of the advantages cf the recently-established Imperial Defence College. NAVAL BASE ESSENTIAL Referring to the Singapore naval base, he stated that the present programme of work was limited to what was essential to enable the utilisation of the floating dock after its arrival. Meanwhile the Government had recently decided to adopt a reduced scheme advanced by the Admiralty. At the same time careful investigations bad been made in regard to the requisite naval base defences, and the plans of the chiefs of staffs had been approved. The expenditure would be very heavy, even alter allowing for reductions in the original Admiralty scheme. The Government came to the conclusion, after most careful consideration, that it was vital to the security of the Empire that this scheme should be proceeded with, because it was essential that the flee* should have full freedom of movement throughout the Empire.

He therefore asked the Do* minions specially interested m the Far East to consider most carefully 'whether there was any way in which they would co-op* erate in the development; of Singapore* either now or within the next few years. There could be no more valuable contribution to the defence of the Empire as a whole. Considerable progress had been made with continuous investigation into precautions in the event of air raids, and a scheme of insurance against aircraft and bombardment risks, in the light of war experience, had been worked out. Plans had also been worked out for the insurance of ships and cargoes against war risks. Mr Baldwin added: “Lord Cecil presides over the Trading and Blockade sub-committee, which is studying all the methods of economic pressure which were inaccurately termed ‘the blockade’ in the late war. CO-OPERATION WELCOMED Mr Baldwin outlined the other suboommittees’ activities, and said he hoped that as a part of the general policy of improving methods of communication and consultation on matters of common interest, it would be considered how far, in the interest of co-ordination in defence, the elastic machinery of the Imperial Defence Committee might be further used. The Home Government would certainly welcome more frequent association and closer 00-operation with the committee on all matters affecting the Dominions or the general defence of the Empire. SPEECHES BY DELEGATES Statements were also made, at & further meeting on December 26th, by Earl Beatty on behalf of the chiefs of staffs, and by Lord Birkenhead, and after subsequent meetings the discussions were resumed at a meeting of the conference on November 16th, when speeches were made by Mr Mackenzie King (Canada), Mr Stanley Bruce (Australia), Mr J. G. Coates (New Zealand), Mr N. C. Havenga (South Africa), Mr W. S. Monroe (Newfoundland), and the Maharajah of Burdwan (India). Mr King, in expressing the appreciation of the Service demonstrations, said they indicated the need for all parte of the Empire to keep abreast with defence development. He proceeded to describe the Canadian defence organisation.