FAR EAST AFFAIRS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20142, 11 January 1940, Page 2

FAR EAST AFFAIRS

DEPENDING ON EUROPE STRENGTH OF SINGAPORE BRITISH PRESTIGE The view that the ultimate outcome of events in the Far East depended upon the war in Europe was expressed by Mr. I. S. Palmer, a former Auckland journalist, who reurned this week. Mr. Palmer left Auckland in the 32ft. ketch Idle Hour, owned by the young American Dwight Long. For over three years he has been engaged in newspaper work in Singapore and has travelled extensively in the East. Mr. Palmer said he found the Chinese and Japanese reading news of the European war more avidly than that of the Sino-Japanese conflict. Britain’s stand against aggression had done much to restore the prestige she lost during the policy of appeasement. Peoples of the East were also impressed! at the way the countries of the Empire had supported Britain in time of crisis. The Singapore Base While many thought of Singapore simply as a naval base, land and air defences there were also important:. Thousands of troops from Britain, India and the Malay Peninsula were stationed there. The island of Singapore bristled with fortifications afod that at Penang, 400 miles to the north', would soon be almost as strong. Modern warplanes were based at Singapore and on the mainland, guarding against any attack from the rear. The naval base itself was in full commission. Singapore was ready for a threat from any direction. The change from peace to war footing had been accomplished with as little interference as possible to the trade of the port. This was necessary owing to the huge quantities of essential war materials, notably tin- and rubber, which passed through the port from British Malaya.

Germans go to Thailand

It was realised that Malaya’s best contribution was to maintain a steady supply of essential commodities. Ships had to submit to restrictions, but this was for their own safety because of minefields near Singapore.

Many Germans from Singapore fled to Thailand, or Siam, shortly before war broke out, Mr. Palmer said. This country would be of great strategic importance in any conflict between world Powers in the Far East. Friend-: ship with Britain was traditional, but because of reluctance to antagonise Japan, Thailand carried neutrality to extreme lengths. Nevertheless, he did not find the country by any means a puppet of Japan, whose influence was much weaker than two years ago.