BRITAIN’S NAVAL POLICY

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21806, 11 June 1936, Page 13

BRITAIN’S NAVAL POLICY

fHE MEDITERRANEAN PROBLEM an early decision URGED CAPE TOWN AS POSSIBLE EASE At SUDD PiiEiS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT.) (Received June 11, 12.30 a.m.) LONDON. June 10. The naval correspondent of the “Daily Telegraph" (Mr Hector Bywater) says: “Though there is no question of Britain ever totally abandoning the Mediterranean, a spokesman for all three services is strongly urging that a definite decision regarding Britain’s future policy in the Mediterranean should be taken without delay, for which an early summoning of an Imperial conference on defence is suggested, since the matter cannot be settled without consulting the Dominions. “It is not correct that the Government is planning a big naval base at Cyprus, which is flanked by nonBritish territory. Moreover, naval experts argue that with the development of aviation. Cyprus will soon become as vulnerable as Malta, whose future is still undecided. “The question cf Cape Town as a possible base for the British battlefleet is already receiving official consideration. It is not generally known that since August a considerable portion of Ua traffic which normally passed through the Suez Canal has been diverted to the Cape route, enabling the naval and shipping authorities to gain valuable experience, especially regarding the bunkering and port facilities needed if the whole of the eastern traffic had, in certain contingencies, to be diverted via the Cape.”