SINGAPORE AGAIN

Northern Advocate, 2 August 1924, Page 5

SINGAPORE AGAIN

CONSERVATIVE CONTUMACY. POLICY REVERSAL EPFORT." RESULTS IX FAILURE. (Received 10.20 a.m.) ' LONDON, August 1. The Conservatives again attempted to reverse the Singapore base decision, Mr L. C. M. S. Amery in the House of Commons moving reduction of the Naval Vote as a protest against th-j naval programme, urging a comprehensive scheme of replacement and a reversal of the decision in.regard to the the Singapore base, the importance of which he said did not lie in tlie Pacific, but in the Indian Ocean, which it would effectually cover from outside invasion. Commander Kenworthy said he thought the Government was absolutely right. He believed there was a democratic movement in Japan which would respond to the inv> f sition to disarmament conferences. Commander Bellairs expressed the opinion that if Britain were to bear this burden of armaments the Dominions ought to help. Mr C. G. Amnion, Admiralty Secretaiy, said that the Prime Minister was fuLty occupied with other .matters, but as soon as possible every step would be taken to convene an international conference. Meantime the Government would maintain what it considered the right margin -of safety without doing anything which might be considered provocative. All the Washington Treaty signatories had abided by their agreement. *No one had made a greater reduction than Britain. He saw no reason for a revision of the Singapore decision. He denied that there was

strong feeling in Australia, where there was division of opinion on the matter. He pointed out that in view of the distance of Australia from Japan it was not so easy for the latter to wreak its will on Australia as might be thought. Singapore gave Mr MacDonald something to bargain with, and failing a satisfactory decision the Government would regretfully establish the base.

Mr Amery's motion was negative] by 228 votes to 182.—A. and N.Z.