NAVAL POLICY.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18141, 2 August 1924, Page 15

NAVAL POLICY.

DEBATE m COMMONS. MOTION OF PROTEST DEFEATED (bt cable—puss assoctakos—cemioHT) (KBCTO'S TELXOBAMS.) (Received August Ist, 8.10 pjM.) LONDON, July SI. The Conservatives again attempted to revise the Singapore decision, Mr L. C. M. Amery, in the Home of Commons, moving a reduction of the naval vote as a protest against the Government 's naval programme. Mr Amery urged a comprehensive scheme of replacement and the reversal of the decision regarding Singapore, the importance of which, he said, did not lis in the Pacific but in the Indian Ocean, which it would effectually cover from ontside invasion. Commander J. M. Konworthy (Liberal) thought the Government absolutely right. He believed there wr.s a Liberal-Democratic movement in Japan which would respond to an invitation to a disarmament conferenco.

Commander BclJairs (Conservative) expressed the opinion that, "If we are to bear this burden of armaments, the Dominions ought to help us." Mr C. G. Ammon, Parliamentary Sec-ri-tary to the Admiralty, said the Premier was fully occupied with other matters, but as soon as possible every step would be taken to convene nn international conference. Meantime, the Government would maintain what it considered a right margin of safety, without doing anything which might bo considered provocative. All tlin Washington signatories had abided by their agreement, and nobody had nmde a greater reduction than Britain, lie wiw no reason for a revision of the Singapore decision. Ho denied that there wua otroug feeling in Australia, where there was a division of opinion on the matter. In view of the distance of Australia from Japan, it was not so cany for the latter to work her will on Australia as might be thought. Singapore gave Mr Mac Donald something to bargain with, and failing a satisfactory doclsion wc would, regretfully, have to establish the base. Mr Amery's motion was negatived by 228 votes to 182.