EMPIRE DEFENCE

Northern Advocate, 28 June 1935, Page 4

EMPIRE DEFENCE

AUSTRALIAN PROJECT

CLOSE CO-ORDINATION,

MELBOURNE, June- 23

It is believed that a meeting of the Commonwealth Defence Council is the prelude to Australia embarking upon defence measures and commitments in close co-operation with. Great Britain and the other dominions.

Part of this plan is the establishment in each of the dominions of permanent organisations, such as the Defence Council in Australia. The plan envisages that each dominion will arrange, as far as finances and resources permit, for local defence, but that, at the same time, defence policies will be evolved with a view to obtaining a co-ordinated system of defence throughout the Empire. A constant liasion will be maintained between the British and dominion defence departments during the implementing of these policies. As Singapore occupies a strategic position in relation to Australia, it is understood that the Commonwealth's plans will be linked with the defence of this centre. The despatch of a defence force officer to Singapore, who will act as an observer for Australia, is under consideration. It is probable that an Australian officer will be stationed permanently at Singapore to maintain a close contact between this defence centre and the Commonwealth. ~, The meeting of the Commonwealth Defence Council, which was reconstituted a few months ago, was the first which has been held since 1929. In its consideration of Imperial aspects of defence policy, it is understood that the council gave close attention to reports made by Sir Maurice Hankey, secretary of the Imperial Defence Committee, who recently visited Australia, and also to a report of a conference of Empire naval leaders held at Singapore in 1934. The relation of Australian defence policy to. the Singapore base was discussed m view of the termination this year ox the Washington Agreement.

Official Statement.

After the meeting, the Acting-Prime Minister (Dr. Page) said that all aspects of the defence policy of Australia had been reviewed. The council was an advisory and consultative body, and all decisions relating to changes or a continuation of present pol£? rested ultimately with the Ministry. Public announcements bearing on the meeting of the council would be made later. A careful examination had been made of the financial aspects of the three-years’ defence programme, which would shortly enter upon its second year, in relation to the Budget for 1935-3 b <md for the subsequent year. ; ■ The Defence Council, it is believed, favours a slightly increased defence vote for 1935-36, but it was realised, after a survey of Commonwealth finances generally, that it would not be possible for the Ministry to add greatly to defence expenditure next yeai.