EASTERN MENACE

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 136, 10 June 1924, Page 7

EASTERN MENACE

FEARS IN PACIFIC DOMINIONS

HON. E. NEWMAN'S LETTER,

(UNITED r-EESS ASSOCIATION.—COPTRIGUT.)

(PUBLISHED IN THE TIMES.)

• LONDON, Bth June. A letter published in "The Times," by the Hon. Edward Newman, M.L.0., of New Zealand, says that if any party or parties in England desired to weaken the links binding the Empire they could not devise a better method of so doing than the course adopted by the Imperial Government during the last few months, first, by its action in regard to preference, and now iv what appears to be the final abandonment of the Singapore base.

The letter adds: "Kightly or wrongly, those parts of the Empire bounded by the Pacific consider the base essential to their protection^ This-opinion is founded on repcirtis*give"n'by"the highest "naval authorities. It is the custom in this country to laugh at the Yellow Peril. .Australia and New Zealand are inclined to take a different view. These countries are nearer to what will probably be the' danger zone in the next war than is England, and know a little more about the subject; therefore, I venture to state that the action of "the Government is disposing of the plant assembled for the construction of the Singapore Base will be strongly condemned by many loyal Australians and New Zealanders."