HEW ARMAMENTS RACE.

Manawatu Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 2695, 13 July 1923, Page 5

HEW ARMAMENTS RACE.

VALUE OF SINGAPORE BASE. AIR DEFENCE OR NAVAL PREPARATION? COMPETITION MEANS WAII [By Electric Cable—Copyright], [Aust. and N.Z. Cable Association.] (.Received Thursday, 11. HO p.m.) LONDON, July 12. Lord Wimborne, in the House o£ Lorus, moved that in view of the growing importance of air power, the contemplated expenditure under the Naval and Air Estimates was disproportionate. Lorn Dmi-uhgow said the Singapore base was by tar the cheapest way of rendering British sea power effective in the Far East that could be conceived. Lora rruldane asked against whom was the Singapore naval base directed? Was it the United States or Japan? He failed to see how our general command of the sea was this moment imperilled. Home air defence was more important than security in the Far East. People had not fUily realized we were now a Continental nation. Lord Long deprecated the attempt to institute a comparison between aircraft and the capital ship, in order to secure more money for the Air Force. Viscount Grey agreed that the Government had no choice, except to increase expenditure on the Air .Force, but essential as this expenditure was, St was the beginning of a new competition in armaments, which would inevitably lend to a war worse than the last, and one from which European civilization would never recover. He urged the Government to take all possible steps for the international limitation of armaments. If war with Japan did occur, in which the United States and the British Empire would be on the same side, he was not at ail sure that the construction of a dock at Singapore was the best way to prepare for the contingency. Lord Wimborne motion was negatived without a division.