EMPIRE DEFENCE ISSUE

Northern Advocate, 11 June 1936, Page 7

EMPIRE DEFENCE ISSUE

NEED FOR IMPERIAL CONFERENCE - (Received 10 a.m.) LONDON, jrune 10. The naval correspondent of the" “Telegraph,” Mr Hector Bywater, states that although there is no question of Britain ever totally abandoning the Mediterranean, a spokesman of all three Services is strongly urging that a definite decision regarding Britain’s future policy in the Mediterranean should be made without delay. N For this reason, the early summoning of an Imperial Conference on Defence is suggested, since the matter cannot be settled without consulting the Dominions.

The writer says it is not correct that the Government is planning a big naval base at Cyprus, which is flanked by non-British territory. Moreover, naval experts argue that, with the development of aviation, Cyprus will soon become as vulnerable as Malta, the future of which is undecided.

The question of Capetown as a possible base for the British Battle Fleet is receiving official consideration. It is not generally known, says the correspondent, that, since August, a considerable portion of the traffic that passed through the Suez Canal has been diverted to the Cape route. This has enabled the naval and shipping authorities to gain valuable experience especially in regard to bunkering and port facilities, which would be needed if the whole of the Eastern traffic contingencies had to be diverted via the Cape.