IMPERIAL DEFENCE

Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 60, 4 December 1926, Page 9

IMPERIAL DEFENCE

MB BALDWIN’S SPEECH AT CONFERENCE ISSUED

IMPORTANCE OF THE SINGAPORE NAVAL BASE

NEW ZEALAND’S SHARE OF THE BURDEN

AUSTRALIA’S NAVAL AND MILITARY EXPENDITURE The speeches at the Imperial Conference on the defence of the Empire have been issued. Mr. Baldwin and Mr. Bruce emphasised the necessity of the Singapore base to secure the trade routes and ensure the fleet having full freedom of movement throughout the Empire. Mr. Bruce also reviewed what Australia had done in the way of defence since the 1923 Conference, and the annual expenditure per head of the population. Mr. Coates said it was not practical politics for New Zealand to build cruisers, but she intended to continue the policy of developing her own division of the Royal Navy.

By Telegraph.—Press Association.—Copyright.

(Rec. December 8, 10.10 p.m.)

London, December 9. The following speech made by Mr Baldwin on Imperial defence at the Imperial Conference on October 26, was issued to-night. Mr. Baldwin at the outset stressed the rigid adherence of successive Governments to the advisory and consultative character of the Committee on Imperial defence, throughout all its developments. The elasticity of memberships of the Committee enabled the Dominions and India to take advantage of the facilities of the committee to any extent they desired. “They can,” he said, “accept, modify or reject its advice. Opportunities for personal association of the representatives of a Dominion with the committee since the war have not been numerous, but the question of Imperial defence has been discussed in greatest detail at the Imperial Conferences, which, indeed provided opportunity for taking stock of the committee’s work. Apart from the personal attendance of Ministers, however, the association of the Dominions with . the committee since the war has been, considerable At present there are fifty sub-commit-tees dealing with the co-ordination of the fighting services and the auxiliary work of the civilian departments generally. The whole of this is a great field of' coordination by the Committee of Imperial Defence. I hope the • Dominions and India will avail themselves of the advantage of the recently established Imperial Defence College.” SINGAPORE SCHEME VITAL TO i SECURITY OF EMPIRE. Referring to the Singapore naval base, Mr. Baldwin stated that the present programme of work was limited to what was essential to. enable the utilisation of the floating dock after arrival. Meanwhile the Government had recently decided to adopt b reduced scheme advanced by the Admiralty. At the same time, careful investigations had been made with regard to the requisite naval base defences, and the plans of the chiefs of Staffs ’had been approved. The expenditure would be very heavy, even after' allowing for reductions in the original Admiralty scheme. The Government came to the conclusion, after most careful consideration, that it was vital to the security of the Empire that this scheme should be proceeded with, because it was essential that the fleet should have full freedom of movement throughout the Empire. He, therefore, asked the Dominions specially interested in the Far East to consider most carefully whether there was any way in which they could cooperate in the development of Singapore, either now or within the next tew years. There could be no more valuable contribution to the defence of the Empire as a whole.

PRECAUTIONS AGAINST AIR RAIDS.

Considerable progress had been made with the continuous investigation into precautions in the event of air raids, and a scheme of insurance against aircraft and bombardment risks, in the light of war experience, had laeen worked out. Plans had also been worked out for the insurance of phips and cargoes against war risks. Mr. Baldwin add“d: “Viscount Cecil presides over the Trading and Blockade Sub-committee, which is studying all the methods of economic pressure, which were inaccurately termed a blockade in the late war.” Mr. Baldwin outlined 'other sub-com-mittees’ activities, and said he hoped, as part of a general policy of improving - the methods of communication and consultation on matters of common interest, that it would be considered how far, in the interest of coordination in defence, the elastic machinery of the Imperial Defence Committee might be further used. The Home Government would certainly welcome more frequent association and closer co-operation with the committee on all matters affecting the Dominions or the genera! defence of the Empire. Statements were also made at a further meeting, on October 26 by Admiral Beatty,, on behalf of the chiefs of staffs committee, and by Lord Birkenhead,. and, after subsequent meetings, the discussions were resumed at a meeting of the Conference on November 15, when speeches were made by Mr. Mackenzie King, Mr Bruce, Mr. Coates, Mr. Havenga. Mr. Monroe, and the Maharajah of Burdwan.

Mr. Mackenzie King, in expressing appreciation of the service demonstrations, said they indicated the need for all parts of the Empire to keep abreast with defence development. He proceeded to describe the Canadian defence organisation.

MR. BRUCE ON AUSTRALIA’S SCHEME OF DEFENCE.

Mr. Bruce reviewed at length what had been done by Australia in the way of defence since the passing of the 1923 Conference resolutions. He said the ordinary expenditure on the maintenance of local defence now approximated five millions sterling annually. The Australian Government in 1924 also approved of a developmental programme extending over five years, at a total eost of five millions sterling, excluding the capital cost of naval construction. He’ summed up: "Australia in the present five-vearly period, of which this Is the third year, is spending twentyfive millions in ordinary maintenance, five millions for developmental purposes, and six and a quarter millions for naval construction and aircraft equipment, equal to an annual expenditure of £1 4s. per head of population throughout the five years, but for the n-ent yea? the appropriation ia over

eight millions and the average cost £1 7s. 2d. per head. The guiding principle on which all Australian defence preparations are based is complete uniformity with the fighting services of Britain, in order that in time of emergency it mav dovetail into any formation with which the Australian forces may be needed to co-operate. The war establishments of the British Army are accepted without modification as the war establishments of the Australian Army.” EXCHANGE OF OFFICERS. Mr. Bruce outlined proposals for the exchange of officers for training purposes, and said the system of exchange of staff officers with England and India would be regularly maintained. He pointed out that Australian officers were at the time engaged in a flight, including the east coast of Australia, New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, New Hebrides, New Caledonia, Fiji, and Samoa, with the object of surveying bases for war and commercial aviation purposes, and to test the suitability of seaplanes for operation in those waters. Arrange, tnents were beinp made for the provision of oil tanks at Darwin. Australia was looking forward to becoming fully self-supporting in the near future. In regard to the provision of equipment and munitions, the Air Service would be equipped with the best modern types in the next three years. Landing grounds were being established on strategical air routes, besides grounds for civil aviation. SINGAPORE BASE ESSENTIAL. Mr. Biuce referred to Singapore as a question of primary importance to Australia. It was of the very greatest importance to every part of the Empire that the trade routes of the world should be ensured in the event of an outbreak of hostilities. Australia was satisfied that it was essential that there should be a base in the East, where the British Navy could be quartered in the event of trouble arising in the Pacific, both for protecting Empire territories and ensuring the trade routes. Australia’s final decision was that Singapore should be the place, and it was absolutely essential. While he could not for a second suggest that Australia’ would contribute towards the construction. in view of its remaining commitments, he promised that the position would be discussed by the Common-' wealth Parliament, and it would be for Parliament to come to the decision it thought fit. Mr. Bruce concluded - by emphasising that Australia still subscribed to the principle that every effort should be made to bring about a limitation of armaments.

MR. COATES EMPHASISES VALUE OF ARMY’S WORK.

Mr. Coates expressed himself impressed with the service demonstrations. He was disposed to think that the Army had demonstrated that a number of vehicles and machines could be of practical use not only militarily, but civilly and commercially, particularly in overseas countries in connection with pioneering work. He expressed the opinion that the taxpayer was getting a most valuable asset in the Army’s work, apart from defence. He agreed with Mr. Bruce that it was very hard to separate parts of the Empire, especially in case of dispute. Any dispute whcih affected one or two portions affected all. He asked if the burden of construction of _ the necessary ships could not be borne in greater proportion by the Dominions, which did not consider themselves so vitally concerned in the Singapore scheme. On the basis of’that principle, it seemed important that offers of assistance from the Dominions and India should be made soon. At present it was not practical politics for New Zealand to build cruisers, but she intended to continue the policy of developing her own division of the Royal Navy, and to maintain modern suitable cruisers.

CONTRIBUTION TOWARDS SINGA. PORE.

The question of New Zealand making a definite annual contribution towards Singapore would, be submitted to his Parliament at an early date. He considered that the New Zealand Government would be prepared to increase its share of the burden Britain had to bear to enable sea supremacy in any particular quarter to become more efficient. Details were now being discussed with the Admiralty. New Zealand, as far as her military policy was concerned, intended to continue in full agreement with the Defence Committee’s proposals with regard to homogeneity, organisation, material, and the use of training establishments in Britain, India, and any Dominion with whom she could co-operate. New Zealand was anxious to continue her air development on co-onerative lines with Britain, and possibly with Australia. Mr. Coates pointed out that New Zealand’s geographical position entered into consideration SOUTH AFRICA’S SYSTEM OF DEFENCE. Mr. Havenga detailed South Africa’s military svstem of defence. He said approved coast defence was maintained at Table Bay and Simons Bay. The question of making Durban an adequately defended port was under consideration. South Africa aimed at keeping her military organisation, as far aa her resources would permit, in harmony with the British Government’s policy, but no person could legally be compelled to render personal war acrvica outside

South Africa, therefore! the extent of South Africa’s immediate or participation would depend on tiout Africa's national interest tn a war being so great that when an emergency should arise special amending legislation would be acceptable to the country, or on popular interest being great enough to ensure numerous volunteers. ATTITUDE IN EVENT OF WAR. Mr. Havenga was confident that if the circumstances were such that the union desired to participate in a war public opinion would be such that no difficulty would be experienced in obtaining an infantry brigade for external service, and a further effort would be forthcoming if the situation developed. It was his opinion that in the present stage of their development the policy best serving the Union, as well as the British Commonwealth, was while discharging her, present coast defence responsibik’ties, to devote available financial resources to training and developing the air and land forces. It was these with which South Africa would be able most effectively to assist in a case of war in which the Union was participating. Mr. Havenga suggested that the Committee on Imperial Defence should review the South African coastal defences and consider whether, on the assumption that it would soon be necessary to rearm or increase the home coastal defences, aircraft could be more efficiently and economicallv used, and in view' of Hie probable nature and scale of attack against South Afnca it should also consider co<mate matters Mr. Baldwin accepted the suggestion Mr. Monroe said men, esneciallv seagoing, were the onlv considerable direct contribution Newfoundland was financially able to offer. INDIA’S DEFENCE BURDENS. The' Maharajah of Bnrdwan said India subscribed to the general wish of the Department,, but must not fail adequately to provide for her own local defence, and the burdens under her own defence unfortunately rendered it impossible that she should contribute to the Singapore base. India bad accepted the necessity for maintaining uniformity in training methods and equipment throughout the Empire as far as practicable.

PRESS COMMENT ON REPORT NON-COMMITTAL

(Rec. December 3, 8.15 p.m.)

London, December 3.

Comment regarding the defence report is generally restrained and non-committal. “The Times” says it is clear that no immediate help may be expected from Australia, New Zealand, or India towards the cost of the Singapore base.