NO SINGAPORE.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18016, 7 March 1924, Page 9

NO SINGAPORE.

BASE ABANDONED. DECISION OF CABINET. A "DAILY MAIL" REPORT. V»I CABLX—PBBSS ASSOCIATION COPYRIGHT.) (SvDjiar "Sun" Sbbvics.) (Received March 6th, 11.20 p.m.) LONDON, March 6. The "Daily Mail" understands that Cabinet has decided not to proceed with the Singapore base. DEFENCE OF PACIFIC. MR BRUCE'S VIEW OF THE NEED PERTH, March 6.

Mr Bruce (Prime Minister of Australia), referring to Empire defence, in a speech made on his arrival by the Osterley, said that the Imperial Conference had agreed that it was imperative that Great Britain, while ever striving to bring about further reduction in armaments, should maintain forces necessary for the defence of her great possessions here.

In Australia the main, issue -was tH« defence of the Pacific. The Singapore baso was discussed by the Conference, and he would deal with the subject at very great length later. He had pressed that the Empire's policy should be to insure that the Singapore base was built, Because without it Great BrHJiin'a position in the Pacific was inevitably and completely altered.

The motive which actuated him most, said Mr Bruce, was the faot that the Washington Treaty oould never be given effect to unless the Singapore base were built.

Without Singapore it wae impoa- j gible for Great Britain to have her share of the forces accorded her under the treaty, for she oould not bring a single modern battleship into the Pacific unless she had a base from which she oould operate. Mr Bruce dwelt upon thai aspect of the case, because in striving for a reduction in armaments they had to act with sanity, and not be carried away by unreasoning idealism. If the Empire stripped itaelf of its full powers of defence it would not he contributing to a reduction in armaments, but would be giving an incentive to immoral nations to pile up armaments and to drive Britain back to the point of starting in competition with them.