DEFENCE OF EMPIRE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19502, 4 December 1926, Page 11

DEFENCE OF EMPIRE.

CO-ORDINATION POLICY. DEVELOPMENTS in BRITAIN MR. BALDWIN'S REVIEW. WORK OF COMMITTEE. SINGAPORE BASE BURDEN. By Telegraph—Presfv Association—Copyright. (Received 8.35 p.m.) ■A. and N-Z. LONDON, Dec. 3. The following transcript of a speech on Imperial defence which was made by the British Prime Minister, Mr. Stanley Baldwin on October 26 at the Imperial Conference was issued last evening. At the outset Mr. Baldwin laid stress upon the rigid adherence by successive Governments to the advisory and consultative charactei of the Committee on Imperial Defence throughout all its developments. The elasticity of the member ship of the committee enabled the Dominions and India to take advantage of the facilities of the committeo to any extent they desired. " They can,' he said, " accept, modify or raject its advice. Opportunities for the personal association of representatives q{ the Dominions with the committee since the war have not been numerous, but the question of Imperial, defence has been discussed in the greatest detail at Imperial Conferences, which, indeed, hava provided an opportunity for taking stock of the committee's work. "Apart from personal attendance ef Ministers, however, the association of the Dominions with the committee since the war has been considerable. At present 50 sub-committees are dealing with the co-ordination of the fighting services and the auxiliary work of civilian departments generally. The whole of this is a great field of co-ordination by- the Committee. I hope the Dominions and India will avail themselves of the advantages of the recently-established Imperial Defence College." Singapore Base and Dominions. Referring to the Singapore naval base the Prime Minister said the present programme oi work was limited to what was essential in order to enable the floating dock 'to be utilised after its arrival at Singapore. • In the meanwhile the Government had recently decidec to adopt a reduced scheme advanced by the Admiralty. At the same time careful investigations had been made in regard to the requisite defences 6t the naval base, and the plans ipf the Chiefs of Staffs had been approved. The expenditure would be very heavy, even after allowing for the reductions on ,the original schema of , the Admiralty. "The Government had come to the conclusion after most careful consideration that it was vita) to the security of the Empire that this scheme should be proceeded with, because it %vas essential that the fleet should 'have full freedom of movement throughout the Empire. He therefore asked the Dominions which are specially interested in the Far l£ast to consider most carefully whether, there is any way in which they can cooperate iu thfc development of the Singapore base, either now or within the next few years. .There could be no more valuablo contribution .to defence ,of the Empire 1 as a whole, ... . Defence Against Air Raids. Continuing, Mr. Baldwin said considerable progress had been made with the continuous investigation into precautions in the event of air raids, and a scheme of insurance against aircraft bombardment risks, in tho light of war experience, had been worked out. Plans had also been worked out for the insurance'of ships'and cargoes .against war risks. : Viscount 'Cecil' presided over the Trading and Blockade Sub-Committee. It was studying all methods of economic pressure, which were inaccurately termed 9 " blockade " iu the late war. He oiitJined other sub-committees' activities. Closer Co-operation Desired. Mr. Baldwin said he hoped that, as part of a general policy of improving the methods of communicatiqn and consultation on matters of common interest, it would be considered how far iu the interest of co-ordinatiou in defence the elastic machinery of the Imperial Defence Committee might be further used. The British Govei'hnient would certainly welcome more frequent association and closer co-operation with the committee on all matters affecting the Dominions or the general defence of the Empire. Statements were also made at a further meeting of the conference on October 26 by Admiral of the Fleet Earl Beatty on behalf of the Chiefs of Staffs Committee, and by the Earl of Birkenhead. After subsequent meetings the discussions were resumed at a meeting of the conference on November 15, when speeches were made by Messrs. W. L. Mackenzie King (Canada),, S. M. Brtice (Australia), J. G. Coates (New Zealand), N. CHavenga (South Africa), W. S. Monroe (Newfoundland) and the Maharajah oi Burdwan (India) , Comment regarding the report is generally restrained and aon-committal. The Times says: It is clear that no immediate help can be expected from Australia, New Zealand or India toward the cost of the Singapore base. .