SINGAPORE BASE

Feilding Star, Volume 2, Issue 136, 27 March 1924, Page 5

SINGAPORE BASE

DEBATE IN THE HOUSE. GOVERNMENT CHALLENGED PROTEST MOTION LOST BY 287 TO 211. (By Electric Cable.--Copyright). (Aust. ana XV--Z. valil© Association) London, March ~2~). The debate on the Singapore base was opened by Sir Robert Home moving a reduction of £IOO in the Navy Estimates, as a protest against the Government's policy. He said the Government, while professing to consult the Dominions, merely announced their decision to the Dominions, and did not give them a chance to do anything alter the Government's judgment. lie had never seen a consultation take a more discourteous form. He emphasised that the Dominions mainly concerned, Australia and New Zealand, had protested emphatically and expressed dismay at the Government's decision. Sir Robert Home read an extract from Mr Bi uce's communication, and said it was impossible to imagine a protest expressed in grave language. Sir Robert Home said the abandoning ot Singapore meant washing our hands of any possible defence of Australia, New Zealand, and India. The action of the Government was not a large gesture to the world but a backward nod to supporters behind the Prime Minister. It was a sop to the pacifists who gave hime votes.

-Mr Amnion, Under-Secretary to the Admiralty, said that notwithstanding the message of Messrs Bruce and Massey, there was a body of opinion in Australia and Now Zealand against the Singapore scheme. The Government had not challenged the question of naval or military strategy. In view of the reported desire of Americans for an international disarmament conference we should make a moral gesture in the hope that there would be some co-operation. We would be in a much stronger position if. after exploring all posibilities, we were, compelled to continue our armament policy. A base at Singapore would undoubtedly hamper the establishment of international confidence, and lay our good faith open to suspicion. Japan was. still suffering from the effects of the earthquake, and was unlikely 10 complete her armaments. Japan had given every earnest desire to carry out the Washington agreement. The strengthening and enlarging of the, authority of the League of Nations would be a greater .defence of the peace of the.world, than all the armed forces and new docks that could possibly be built. THE ONLY ENEMY. Mr Geo. Lambert (Labour) said the only possible enemy to Singapore was Japan. Assuming that our strength should be 54 per cent above Japan. it would be necessary for Britain to send 3(50 warships to Singapore. DOMINIONS BETRAYED. Mr F. G. Penny (Conservative) said the Dominions felt they wro. betrayed. It was impossible to run the Empire on the skimmed milk of sentimental rot. The wishes of tb." Dominions should Iks considered in this matter. JAPANESE BOGEY SCOUTED. MY J. M. Ken worthy (Labour) said that Singapore was useless as a base whence the communication of an army brough by Japan to Australia could be harassed. Mr Kenworthy had no belief in" the bogey of Japanese danger, but was of opinion the best answer possible to a Japanese invasion would be a submarine cruiser base somewhere in New Guinea or North Australia. JAPANESE EMIGR ATION Commander Bellairs declared that when the question of disarmament was raised, the Premier was bound to face the question of Japanese emigration to Australia. We desired Japan to find room for expansion, but not at the expense of the British Empire—Australia or elsewhere. EMPIRE SAFETY JEOPARDISED Commander Burney (Conservative) said the Government policy was destructive of confidence of Australia and New Zealand in our determination to guarantee their safety and security in the event of war. It "would jeopardise the safety of the Empire. The British Isles were permanently overdocked. Britain should redistribute the docks as she redistributed ships. and use the money now spent at Chatham upon the dock at Singapore. ' FRESH CONFERENCE URGED! Colonel Amery, who was First Lord of the Admiralty in the Baldwin Government, declared that the Dominions had doubts and suspicions regarding Britain's good faith towards them. He asked what had become of all the advanced status of the Dominions since 1914. He declared that if an agreement reached after consultation by the Empire Prime Ministers should be thrown aside to suit party exigencies that was the end of the present system of Empire. He suggested a fresh conference with the Dominions, to enable a real consul ta-

tion in place of an autocratic tele-, gram telling them "what wc are going to do." GOVERNMENT'S VIEWPOINT Mr J. IT. Thomas.. Secretary of State for the Colonies,' replying to the debate, said the Government had been accused of insulting the Dominions. The Government cabled the Dominions when it decided not to spend any more money on Singapore. Was that evidence of insult? The Government discussed Singapore when the Dominions' representatives wcrp here. Later, a full statement was sent to the Dominions. When the replies were received, Cabinet (considered them, and the Dominions were told quite plainly the Goverriment proposed to make this statement after considering their case. The Government did not consider the question from a strategic, but from a different viewpoint. It was going to make a genuine effort at disarmament. II it succeeded there would be no regrets; if it failed if would stand by the consequences. TI'IE MOTION DEFEATED. London. March 2(5. Sir Robert Home's motion was rejected by 287 votes to 211. The Liberal vote was split. FINE FIGHTING SPEECH. Sir Robert Home's speech, which is described by the Daily Chronicle as the best lighting speech from the Conservatives since Mr Mac-Donald toolc office, aroused frequent Opposition cheers.