SINGAPORE DOCKS

New Zealand Times, Volume LI, Issue 11786, 24 March 1924, Page 7

SINGAPORE DOCKS

‘A TERRIBLE TEMPTATION’ BIG BAND FOECE ESSENTIAL TO PROTECT THEM. lAN HAMILTON’S VIEW. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association (Received March 23, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, March 22. Sir lan Hamilton, speakinlg at Reading, emphasised that Singapore was essentially a land question, and said it might help to calm the public mind, especially in Australia and New Zealand, if he reminded them, that in November, 1912, ae Inspector-General of Overseas Forces ho was sent out with a full staff in order to help the Government to make up their minds re garding the Singapore docks. In 1 his reports he predicted that the very day the tension in Europe relaxed, so the Great Powers would turn their attention to the Pacific. Singapore would become the key to the position, and should therefore he strengthened immediately, even if it meant withdrawing troops from China and raising a force of Malay militia. The garrison at that time was not strong enough to hold Singapore. CHANGED FACTORS. Two events had changed the political factors, first the termination of the Japanese Alliance, and secondly, the Japanese earthquake. The question remained largely a land question. “Japan,” he said “cannot embark upon a military expedition to the Antipodes unless she 'gets hold of a dock for modern battleships at Trinoomalee. The United States cannoc move a battle fleet into the Yellow Sea unless she holds a dock at Singapore. Why offer so terrible a temptation to the general' staffs of any nation,as docks for modem battleships at Singapore, without a big land force to protect them? Why, anyway, do it, when Japan may think, quite erroneously, that she is being squeezed because she happens to have suffered from the earthquake? "NEW ATMOSPHERE" CAN BRITAIN TRUST IT? DANGER OF OLD POLICY. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. LONDON, March 21. ‘‘The Nation” says: “The relations established by the Washington Conference are confirmed by the manner in which Japan is carrying out her Treaty obligations. The vital issue at Singapore is whether we have sufficient faith in the policy which inspired the Washington treaties to risk something on the permanence of this new atmosphere in the Pacific. If we have, the Conference may prove the first step in a new development, and the only one which for long can save civilisation, from destruction. If not, we must de mand not merely the construction of a capital ship base at Singapore, but ultimately the permanent stationing of a battle fleet in those waters, and the provision of an extended programme for large light cruisers suited to Pacific warfare. In that event, our pessimism regarding the continuance pf present relations is likely to be fully justified.’*

"WORTHJJ ALL”

IF IT COSTS £200,000 YEARLY MR MASSEY’S VIEW. Speaking on the subject of the Singapore base at Taumarnnui, tho ~ Prime Minister said that the. danger had shifted from the Atlantia to the Pacific, and that the best naval experts held that a fleet would be powerless .without a base. Even if the Dominion had to contribute £200.000 a year to the upkeep of the fleet jn the Pacific, it was worth it all to hold the Empire intact. Where would the Dominion have been in the Groat War but for the grip of the Navy?