SINGAPORE BASE.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 17984, 30 January 1924, Page 9

SINGAPORE BASE.

LABOUR'S INTENTIONS. ABANDONMENT HINTED AT. (BT CABLE —IT.ESS ASSOCIATION COPTZUGHT.) (austhalian and a.7, cable association./ (Received January 29th, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON. January 29. The '-Daily Herald"' says, regarding Singapore, that attention has been drawn to a speech by Mr J. H. Hudson, iI.P. (Labour), who said that the Government would make it clear that expenditure on this project must end. thus giving new confidence to America and Holland, which regarded Britain's activities in that quarter with suspicion. The correspondent proceeds:— ''A Cabinet decision of this character "VN'ill come as no surprise to the Labour movement or to thg general public. Hitherto, the naval chiefs,- notably Lord Beatty, have opposed efforts to stop the" project, and have suggested that such a decision might lead to one cr two resignations at the Admiralty. But these would not cause a sixteenth part of the stir that P?tll Mall clubs imagine.

The scheme is regarded as sailing near to the wind in view of the Washington Agreement, and the cost is exceedingly large in view pf the country's financial stress, even were" it§ usefulness proved, which is far from the case.

"Competent critics have stated that the cost'would be at least £20,000,000, apart from subsequent upkeep."