SINGAPORE BASE
THE PRESENT POLICY REPLY TO A QUESTION (From "The Post's" Repras«ntatlve.) LONDON, 26th. November. In the House of Commons last Thursday Captain Eden (Unionist Member for Warwick and Leamington) raised tho question of the action of the Government in regard to the naval base at Singapore. He said that he was not going into the merits or demerits of their action, although many members on the Unionist benches felt very strongly on that point, but they complained of the manner in which the Government had arrived at their policy. Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, and tho Straits • Settlements had all contributed very generously to the heavy burden of costs which the construction of this base involved. It would have been expected that the Government would have informed and consulted them, not only in changesof policy, but on every minor modification in policy. What happened was, however, that the Government decided on a change in policy but did not even consult those who had contributed so largely towards the cost. The Prime Minister had statod that they informed them, but they did not inform some of those who contributed most generously. The information was confined to the Dominions, to Australia and New Zealand, and so far as he was aware the other contributors were able to glean their information from the replies to questions in this House. _ That was a most unsatisfactory position. In ordinary common courtesy it seemed inconceivable that the Government should not first have consulted closely and thoroughly with those who contributed to the cost before they arrived at any decision. He asked why the Government did not 'consult with the Governments of Australia and New Zealand before coming to a conclusion. Why was there no consultation with, and not even information granted to Hong Kong and the Straits Settlements, and with the chiefs of the Federated Malay States, more particularly as tho money paid by the chiefs was paid for the purpose of expediting the work? GOVERNMENT REPLY. Mr. Ponsouby, Under-Secretary for the Dominions (Sheffield, Brightside), said that the Government welcomed the opportunity of clearing up a matter which appeared to have become an obsession with hon. members opposite. Tho five Dominions were consulted by tho present Government on a scale that was quite unprecedented. In. this particular matter, there was no change^ of policy. In the statement of the First LoTd of the Admiralty tho Government had merely shown that precautionary measures for provisional steps might have to be taken in view of possible eventualities. (Opposition laughter.) The eventualities were tho decisions of the Five Power Naval Conference. It was necessary that the Dominions should be informed. As ,far back as July the examination of' the whole question was undertaken by the Government, and the considerations^ that they had in view were communicated to the Dominions. It was not a matter of consultation, and it. was not sprung on the Dominions at the last moment. Time was required for consultation and there were occasions when very prompt statements had to be made by the Government. Such occasions occurred in connection with Parliamentary questions. The period for the preparation of the statement in reply to the question to the First Lord of the Admiralty covered only a few days. The question was down for the 13th, and the reply was drafted by the evening of the 11th, and that same night it was telegraphed to New Zealand and the other Dominions. Since then intercourse and communication had gone on between the Government here and New Zealand and the other Dominions. The Government did not regard, this as consultation with the Dominions because they did not regard it as an occasion for consultation. But Hong Kong, the Federated Malay States, and the Dominions would be drawn into full consultation about the whole policy if and when a decision was to be made after the decisions of the Five Power Conference had been come to. The Government realised the generosity that had been displayed by the Dominions, and whatever decision might be come to in the future they desired that the Empire should act as a whole. _. THE FIVE POWER CONFERENCE. • Mr. Amery (Birmingham, Sparkbrook, U.) said that Mr. Ponsonby had only contrived to involve the' conduct of the Government in complete fog. The House was now assured that there would be consultation with the Dominions, but unless Mr. Ponsonby did not say what he meant such consultation would take place after decisions had been come to by the Five Power Conference. The Opposition wished that there should be consultation now and clear unity of Empire policy in this matter before we entered the Five Power Conference. Mr. Ponsonby said that, of course, the Dominions would be represented at the Five Power Conference. (Ministerial cheers.) Mr. Amery said that he was perfectly aware that the Dominions, though not the colonies, would be represented, but he trusted that we should go to the conference table not meeting as if this matter were raised for the first time in the presence of the world outside, but with a united Empire policy
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Bibliographic details
Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 4, 6 January 1930, Page 3
Word Count
852SINGAPORE BASE Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 4, 6 January 1930, Page 3
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