SINGAPORE NAVAL CONFERENCE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LVI, 6 March 1925, Page 5

SINGAPORE NAVAL CONFERENCE

LONDON, March 5

At. Singapore, Admiral Everett, in an interview, said the ships of three stations are in these parts of the world. It is quite conceivable, if a menace arose, though Ido not see one at present, we should have to act together, so we have come here to have a sort- of palaver. Iho Admiralty idea is that every two or three years, the Comma nders-in-Chiefs of adjacent stations, should meet to discuss questions affecting the mall. The Press ha dmade an awful lot ot itiss about, a conference on the Naval Base. We have not come to talk about, a naval base, any more than we have come to talk about the'price of bananas. The only thing is, supposing we al lhave to act together in a crisis, 1 do not foresee one at present, we have- get to haveco-operation. A conference is a good thing, especially when we had attenuated forces and smal Isquadrons. such as at present on the China, and the East Indies stations, also Australia. The fact that there are so many ships now at Singapore is accidental and, if you like, incidental. The ships are collected here because it. was the most- convenient place for the three squadrons. Singapore’s geographical position explained its selection as a naval base, hut we have not come to talk base, that is Imperial policy. Concluding, Admiral Everett, referring to the (Base, said: “What \ve want is this. Supposing a bigship comes here. We want, somewhere to pub her. A lot O' fnonsense had been talked about a. great, naval base at Singapore. What we want are docking facilities for modern ships.