Concern At Report On Singapore

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30939, 21 December 1965, Page 22

Concern At Report On Singapore

(From Our Own Ftp oner) WELLINGTON, Dec. 20. Suggestions in the United Kingdom that the military base at Singapore should be permitted to decline in the 1970 s have been received with some surprises and concern in Wellington.

The Government regards the Singapore base as the linchpin of New Zealand defence policy, and over the last two years has firmly rejected a number of British feelers proposing agreement to a running-down of the base within the next few years. Defence authorities Mid tonight that proposals that new bases be established in the Indian Ocean and on the,

northern coast of Australia had met with a. similar lack of enthusiasm. The Government's apparent policy Is to maintain its collective forward defence base as near as possible to the actual area of threatened conflagntions. In addition, it is under no illusions about the cost of establishing a new base of equivalent size to that at Singapore, to which it would be morally bound to contribute. The drain in overseas funds would at present be almost prohibitive. In spite of the lack of enthusiasm for the proposal.

however, there, to a strong feeling among defence offidals that the move to inevitable. They believe the Government will continue its policy of doing everything possible to stall a firm British decision, at least until New Zealand to bettor able to meet the consequent financial demands. Reports suggest that the Australian Government shares New Zealand's concern at the British proposal. Although it has strengthened its base at Darwin it does not favour enlargement to the size where it would become the cornerstone of the allied Asian defence system.