DEFENCE OF THE EMPIRE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18888, 10 December 1924, Page 9

DEFENCE OF THE EMPIRE.

THREE VITAL GATEWAYS.

IMPORTANT OCEAN ROUTES.

SINGAPORE BASE FACTOR.

Bi Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. (Received 11, 35 p.m.) A. and N.Z. LONDON. Dec. 8. Referring to th necessity for keeping the ocean routes i pen in the interests of Empire defence, : he Secretary for the Colonies, in a speech at the Australian and New Zealand Club's luncheon, said there were three gateways of vital importance—Gibraltar, the' Suez Canal, and the Straits of Singapore. They were bound to safeguard all these. This was nn internal matter concerning the British Empire, and not concerning anyone else. Singapore vpp a gateway which might be valueless unless means were provided to re-equip British ships. Thai; also was purely an internal matter for the Empire, which they were not merely entitled to look after, but were bound to make use of.

In the vast developments pending in the Pacific, New Zealand and Australia most give a lead to the new world, as Britain in the past had given a lead to the old world.

The Daily Tedegraph, in commenting on the Government's decision to proceed with the Singapore base scheme, says: Doubtless the question of finance as between the Mother Country and the Dominions will now be reconsidered; Britain is not in the position of the rich uncle in the fairy story. She is really very poor and also over-taxed. The expenditure on the Singapore base, however necessary it may be, is, on the broadest Imperial grounds, unwelcome."

RESUMPTION ,OF SCHEME. SIR GEORGE FENWICK'S BELIEF. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Reed. 5.5 pm.) SYDNEY. Dec. 9. In a reference to the importance of the Singapore base scheme to New Zealand and Australia, Sir George Femviek, of Dunedin, said the general feeling manifested in England after the victory of the Conservative Party had taken place was that the base would be established. There was little doubt in his mind that it would be carried into effect almost immediately.