EMPIRE DEFENCE

Evening Star, Issue 19408, 17 November 1926, Page 6

EMPIRE DEFENCE

, 4 IMPERIAL CONFERENCE DISCUSSIONS EQUITABLE DISTRIBUTION OF COST ANNUAL CONTRIBUTIONS SUGGESTED. Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright LONDON, November 16. (Received November 17, at 1 p.m.) Upon yesterday’s little flash of frank interchanges during Mr Bruce’s speech on Imperial defence, coupled with the fact that a contract was let to-day for the building of Singapore’s floating dockj a section of the British Press has printed a story that the Prime Ministers have been asked how much they are prepared to pay towards the Singapore base. It is learned that the minor issue has been mistaken for the major, and that, as previously cabled, Downing street has raised the whole question of a more equitable distribution of the cost of Empire defence, in which Singapore’s cost of £11,000,000, spread over ton years, is a mere incident alongside the bulk total of the Navy Estimates. ft is true that a suggestion has been made to the dominions for annual contributions, to which South Africa and the Irish Free State are displaying a certain aloofness, and Canada a degree of hesitancy, while New Zealand and India are cordially sympathetic, and Australia is disposed to weigh the possibilities in the light of her own direct naval expenditure. In this connection it is gathered that Mr Bruce’s recital of the Commonwealth’s defence enterprise considerably impressed the conference and rather emphasised the force of Britain’s hint that other units might shoulder some of the burden. There is no thought, as has been suggested, that within the next week the Prime Minisiers will sit around the table and thrash out some scale of contributions.

(.Received November 17, at 1.30 p.m.) Actually the discussion on Imperial defence has ended, and having learned the facts and seen for themselves tlie Prime Ministers will go back to their own Cabinets to discuss whether their response will be a gesture or a gift. From two high-placed authorities tonight came a similar assurance that the thing which most mattered was the iiope of a satisfactory result on interimperial relations, which the Prime Ministers discussed this morning. It will probably be early next week before an official disclosure is made, but an optimistic hint is: “We think we will make a very good show on it.” Thursday’s plenary meeting is expected to discuss the Migration Committee’s report, which will deal with, group settlement and the training of settlers. The prevailing belief is that jthe report contains a fair amount of generalisation, but a foregone conclusion is specific unit proposals in the ease of Australia, which will be remitted to the Migration Department for the closest scrutiny. It has largely been the case of the exploring possibilities of saving the Anglo-Anstralian £34,000,000 scheme from a fiasco. Mr Bruce has completed his discussions with the Post Office on Australia controlling her beam station. The Post Office reply lias not been received, but it is predicted that it will bo a refusal. Mr Bruce, before his departure, will consider whether it is advisable to have a permanent League representative at Geneva, as is done by Canada and Ireland.