Empire Problems

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 744, 17 August 1929, Page 11

Empire Problems

SINGAPORE BASE ESSENTIAL Views of Winston Churchill MISGIVINGS ABOUT EGYPT TREATY (United P.A.—By Telegraph — Copyright) (Australian and, 2?.Z. Press Association) (United Service) Received 12.35 p.m. TORONTO, Friday. F[E completion of tlie Singapore Naval Base is essential for the security of Empire communications,” declared Mr. Winston Churchill, Chancellor of the Exchequer in the Baldwin Government, in a speech here. “Singapore,” he said, “is nothing more or less than a resting-place for the British Fleet, and an aid to friendly relations between Britain and Japan.” He belied the assertion that it was a menace to the Oriental Empire’s security.

“We must have communications between the various parts of the Empire, and a base must be built. Australia and New Zealand have already contributed more money to its construction than the Mother Country. To stop now because of a change of Government would be disastrous.”

He recalled the efforts of New Zealand and Australia for the Empire during the war. These Dominions were entitled to expect that if danger should threaten them, the Empire should go to their aid with all the strength which could be mustered. To accomplish this successfully, the navy needed a base in the East where ships could obtain fuel and supplies. “GRAVEST MISGIVINGS” Discussing the proposed treaty between Britain and Egypt, Mr. Churchill declared that he had the gravest misgivings, as he doubted whether the Egyptian people were any more capable of assuming full responsibility of governing themselves today than they were 50 years ago, when Britain stepped in. Certain public services had been turned over by Britain to Egypt, and in almost every instance, whether in Irrigation or other forms of service, they had deteriorated under Egyptian management. EMPIRE TRADE DISCUSSED Discussing Empire trade, Mr. Chur-

chill suggested the holding of a conference by business men of the Empire. He said it should be held prior to any action by the various Empire Governments. The conference should examine all the diifferent ways and means of expanding Imperial trade, said Mr. Churchill. The whole issue of interEmpire commerce should be dragged out of the arena of party politics, and lifted to a higher and more reasonable basis. Experts in the world of business should survey the problem in the same spirit as would the board of directors of tho world’s largest merger. It should advise the Governments of the Empire after its investigations. Mr. Churchill confessed that although he still considered himself a free trader, he was not wedded indissolubly to the ancient school of economics. The question of making the Empire independent transcended the economic doctrine, and if a plan were made he could not say it should be condemned because it did not conform to the economic doctrine.

The speaker said he appreciated the fact that there -were some things that simply could not be done in Britain. No taxes could ever be imposed on imported foods, and the Dominions could not be expected to demolish the barriers raised to protect their own industries.