SECURITY OF EMPIRE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18556, 14 November 1923, Page 9

SECURITY OF EMPIRE.

GUARDING THE GATEWAYS.

SUEZ AND SINGAPORE.

SPEECH BY MR. MASSEY.

NEW ZEALAND'S GOOD NAME.

By Telegraph—Press Association Copyright, (Received 4.5 p.m.) A', and N.Z. LONDON", Nov. 12. The Duke of Devonshire presided at the British Empire League dinner to Mr. W. F. Massey, Primo Minister of New Zealand. His Grace paid a, tribute to the robust, vigorous support which Mr. Massoy invariably gave to every British undertaking, which had been a real help and encouragement at the Imperial Conference. Replying to the toast of his health, Mr. Massey said that the results of the Imperial Conference remained to be seen, but he believed the work done was well worth doing. It was a pity the members of the Conference could not meet more often, but that was impossible until there was an improvement in transit by sea or air.

He welcomed the recent reference by the Prince of Wales to the importance of travel in order to gain an idea of the potentialities of tho Empire. He regretted that British Ministers did not travel as often as they ought to do. Judging by recent happenings, they did not travel until they ceased to bo Ministers(Laughter.)

Referring to defence, Mr. Massey said he had no fault to find with organisations formed to promote peace, but not one. of those organisations can prevent war if a nation set its mind on that form of arbitrament. He would like to see the English-speaking countries of the world joined for the prevention of war. They could do more in this way than any other organisation of which he could think. The question of the Singapore base had been discussed insido and outside the conference room, and as far as ho was able to judge the work there would bo proceeded with. Lord Jellicoe had told him years ago that Australia and New Zealand would never be safe until Singapore became a naval base.

New Zealand had voted £100,000 toward tho work. While this would not go far, it was an earnest, of what might happen later and a proof of New Zealand's feeling in .he matter. Anything in the way of defence should be above and beyond party. The Suez Canal was one of the most important arteries of British trade, and the Imperial Conference had not forgotten this. There wero other gates of the Empire requiring attention at a time of rational stocktaking, such as the Falkland Islands, and incidentally Gibraltar, where no British Government would permit anything serious to happen.

The Earl of Balfour said that the Singapore project most unhappily had been made the subject of party controversy There was a suggestion that the fortifying of Singapore was trespassing on the spirit of the Washington Conference. A more grotesque view could not be imagined. Singapore was deliberately omitted from- tho Pacific arrangements in order that Britain might do as she liked.

Lord Balfour added that Mr. Massey represented one of the Dominions famed for its Imperial patriotism. If any part of the British Empire from tap trf bottom was purely British in sentiment and aspirations, it was the country Mr. Massey represented.