SINGAPORE BASE

Evening Star, Issue 20256, 17 August 1929, Page 14

SINGAPORE BASE

ESSENTIAL TO EMPIRE MR CHURCHILL SUPPORTS COMPLETION I’rtsa Association.—By Telegraph-^Copyrigiil. -VANCOUVER,-August 16. (Received August 17, at 12.1-5 p.iu.) ' “ The completion ot the Singapore naval lms« U essentia! to EmpiJo comimmications,” Mr Winston Churchill declared at Toronto to-day. Singapore, he said was nothing more or less than a resting place for the British fleet, and the friendly relations between Britain and; Japan belied the assertion that it wa a menace to tho Oriental Empire’s security. “Wo must have communications between the various parts of the Empire, ami the base must be built. Australia and New Zealand have already contributed more money to its construction than the Mother Country. To stop now ■ because of the change in Government would be disastrous.”

Mr Churchill recalled the elicits of ]S T ewr Zealand and Australia for the Empire during tho war. These dominions were entitled to expect that if danger should threaten them the Empire should go to their aid with all the strength which could lie mustered. Successfully to accomplish this the navy needed a base in tho East where ships could obtain fuel and supplies en route to Australia.—Australian Press Association.