PROBLEMS OF EMPIRE DEFENCE

Taranaki Daily News, 4 December 1926, Page 13

PROBLEMS OF EMPIRE DEFENCE

VALUE OF THE IMPERIAL COAIMITTEE S WORK SINGAPORE BASE DECLARED TO BE ESSENTIAL . DOMINION ASKED TO SHARE BURDEN OF COST The, speeches piade by the British Prime Minister (Mr. Stanley Baldwin) and the Dominion Premiers at the discussion on Imperial Defence have now been published. So far as New Zealand is concerned Mr. Coates has indicated that the question of increasing the Dominion’s annual contribution towards the cost of the. upkeep Of the Navy would be submitted to Parliament at ah early date. Iler military policy would continue in full agreement with the Imperial proposals, and air development will he proceeded with.

Received, Dee. 3, 7.15 p.m. London, Dee. 2. The following speech, made by Mr. Baldwin, British Prime Minister, on Imperial defence at the Imperial Conference on October 20, wae issued to-night.. Mr. Baldwin, at the outset, thp rigid adherence of successive Gov- . ernraents to the advisory and consultative'character of the committee on Imperial defence. ■ Throughout all its developments the elasticity of membership of Itho 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 advice. •'(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'the Imperial Conferences, which, indged, provided an opportunity for taking stock of the committee’s work. “Apart- front, the personal attendance of Ministers, however, the association of the'■ Dominions with the committee since the; war has been considerable. At present there are fifty suji-eoinmittee* dealing; with the co-ordination of the fighting ■ services and the auxiliary work of the civilian departments generally. The whole of this is a great field of coordination by the Committee for Imperial Defence. I hope the Dominions andl India will avail themselves of the advantages of the recently-established Imperial Defence College.” . SINGAPORE NAVAL BASE.

Referring to the Singapore naval base, lie stated that the present programme of work wae 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, a careful investigation had'bcen made in regard, to the requisite naval base defences and the plans of the cbiefs-of-stafl's had been: approved. The expenditure would;be very 'heavy even'after allowing for the 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' fleet should have full freedom of move-ment-throughout the Empire. He, therefore, asked tbe“ Dominions specially interested in the Far East to consider most whether there was any way in which they could Co-operate in the development of the Singapore base, cither now or within the next few years. There could ibe no more valuable contribution ■to (the defence of the Empire as a whole. ANTI-AIR RAID SCHEME. ■ Considerable' progress-had been made with continuous investigation into precautions in the event of air -raids and a scheme of insurance against aircraft and boiirbardment 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-Coinmittee which is studying al) the methods of economic pressure which were inaccurately termed a blockade in the late war.” Mr. Baldwin outlined other sub-com-mittees’ activities and said he hoped that, as part of the general policy d£ improving the methods of communication and consultation on matters Of common interest, it would he considered how far,, in the'.interest' of co-ordiffatioii 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 co-operation with the committee' on all matters affecting the Dominions or the general defence of the Empire, Statejnents were also made at a further meeting on October 26 by Admiral Beatty on behalf of the Chiefs ofStaffs Committee, and by Lord Birkenhead, and after subsequent meetings the discussions were resumed at a meeting of the conference on November 15, when speeches were made by Messrs Mackenzie King, Bruce, Coates, Havenga, Monroe and the Maharajah of Burdwan. Mr. Mackenzie King, expressing his appreciation of the service demonstration he had witnessed, said that they indicated the need for all parts of the Empire to keep abreast with defence development. He proceeded to describe the Canadian defence, organisation.

AUSTRALIAN ATTITUDE. . Mr. Bruce reviewed at length what had been done by Australia in the. .way -of defence since the passing of the 1923 Imperial Conference resolutions. He said the ordinary expenditure on the maintenance of loeal defence now approximated £5,000,000 annually. The Australian Governinent in- 1924 also approved of a developmental programme extending over five years, at a total cost of - .Cfi.lH'iO.OOO, excluding the capitalcost of naval construction, lie summed

I up: “Australia, in the present fiveyearly period, of which this is the third year, is spending £25.000.000 in ordinary maintenance, £5,000,000 for developmental purposes and £0,250,000 for naval construction and aircraft equipment. This is equal to an annual expenditure of 24s per head of population: throughout the five years, but for this current year the appropriation is over £S:OOOXKM),: and the average cost 27s 2d per head. “The guiding principle on which- ;all < Australia's defence, preparations are based, is complete uniformity with the lighting services of Great. Britain in, order that in time of emergency it may dovetail into any formation with which Australian forces may be needed to cooperate. The war establishments of the British army are accepted without modi, flection as the war establishments of thf Australian Army.” , , , INTERCHANGE OF OFFICERS. Mr. Bruce, then outlined the proposals , for the exchange of officers ' for' training purposes, and said that the system of exchange of staff officers with England and India would be regularly maintained. He pointed out that Australian ofliiers were at the present time engaged in ft flight including the east coast of Australia, New Guinea, Solomon Islands, New Hebrides, New Caledonia, Fiji and Samoa, with the object of surveying bases for war and commercial aviation purposes, and to test the suitability of seaplanes for operation in those waters. Arrangements were also being made for the provision of oil tanks at Darwin. Australia wae looking forward to becoming fully self-supporting in the near i futiire in regard to the provision of eqiiipment and munitions. Her air service would be equipped with the beet modern, types within the next three years and landing grounds were being established on strategical air routes besides grounds for civil aviation. . He referred to the Singapore, base as a question of primary importance to Australia. It was also of the very greatest importance to every part of the Empire that the trade routes of the world should be ensured in the event of thp outbreak of hostilities. Australia was satisfied it wae essential there should be a base in the East where Hie British, Navy could be quartered in the event of trouble arising in the Pacific, .both for protecting Empire territories and ensuring the trade routes. Australia’s final decision was that. Singapore should ,bb, the place for such a base, and that it was absolutely essential. ' '< ' COST OF SINGAPORE BASE.' '' While be could not for a second sug; gest that Australia would contribute toward!! its construction, in view of her own remaining commitment, he promised that the position would be discussed by the Commonwealth Parliament and it would be for that Parliament to eoiiic to whatever decision it thought fit. i , . . ' ■ He concluded, by emphasising Unit Austifltia still subs..'riled to the principle that every effort should be made t'b bring about dhe limitation of armaments,

NEW ZEALAND’S STANDPOINT.

Mr.' Coates expressed himself as impressed with the service deinoiistraUons. . lie was disposed to think that the army had demonstrated, that a number of vehicles and maeliines .•ould be of practical use, not only militarily, but civilly and commercially, particularly, in overseas countries in eonncctiou with ■ pioneering work. He expressed the opinion that the. taxpayer was getting a most valuable asset jn the army's work apart from defence. He agreed with Mr. Bruce that it wax very hard to separate parts of the Empire, especially in the case of a. dispute. Any dispute which affected one or. two portions affected all. He asked if the burden of the construction of t-he necessary shijis could not be borne in greater proportion by those Dominions which did not consider themselves so vitally concerned in the Singapore naval base. Jt seemed important that offers of assistance from the Dominions and India should be made soon. At present it was not practical polities foi New Zealand to build cruisers, but sluj intended to continue the policy of developing her own division of the Royal Navy find maintain modern and suitable cruisers. . The question of New Zealand making a definite annual contribution towards the eost of the Singapore base, would be submitted to his Parliament at. an early date, and he considered (he New Zealand Government would be prepared to increase its share of the burden Great Britain had to bear to enable her sea supremacy in any particular quarter to become imorc efficient. Details wore now being drspussed, with the Admiralty. New Zealand,, eo far as her military policy iij concerned, intended to continue in full agreement with the Imperial Defence Committee's proposals in regard to hompgenity, organisation, material, ami the use of training establishments in Great Britain, India, and any Dominion with whom she eonlff co-operate. New Zealaml was anxious to continue air development on eo-operativo lines with Great Britain, and possibly Aus. tralia. Jle pointed out that New Zealand’s g^ograpineal position entered into this consideration.