SINGAPORE SCHEME.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIV, Issue 1038, 10 June 1924, Page 5

SINGAPORE SCHEME.

ABANDONMENT CONDEMNED

HON E. NEWMAN'S VIEWS. LONDON, June 8. A letter published in the Times from the Hon. Edward Newman, New Zealand, a member of the Legislative Council/ says that if any party or parties in England desired to weaken the links binding the Empire, they COUld not devise a better method of so doing than the cotlrse adopted by the Imperial Government during the last few months* first by its action in regard to preference and no\v in what appears to be the filial abandonment of the Singapore base. The writer adds that, rightly or wrongly, those parts of the Empire bounded by the Pacific consider the base essential to their protection. "This opinion is founded oil reports given by the highest naval authorities. It is the custom ill this country to laugh at the 'yellow peril,' but Australia and New Zealand are inclined to take a different view. These countries are nearer what will probably bo the danger zone iit the next war than is England, and know a little more about the subject. Therefore, I venture to state that the action of the Government in disposing Of the plant assembled for construction at Singapore will be strongly condemned by many loyal Australians and New Zealanders."—Times.