DEFENCE OF PACIFIC

New Zealand Times, Volume LI, Issue 12009, 11 December 1924, Page 6

DEFENCE OF PACIFIC

MAVAL BASE EBSENTIAL FIRST INSTALMENT, £70,000, Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Received December 11, 10.46 p.m. LONDON, December 10. The “Daily Telegraph”; stated, that the sum the House will be asked to vote as the first instalment for Singapore will not be large, possibly about £7o,' 000. , •The “Telegraph’s” diplomatic correspondent says: * ‘There are, three important aspects 'of the. Singapore base which are not generally borne in. mind. The first is that the Washington Agreement only runs for ten years. There is at present no guarantee of . its extension, and if it is not extended our 'com-., .munications with the 'dominions would, bo entirely without defence by a modern battle fleet, failing a suitable harbour ind docking accommodation.' Secondly, s fleet based on Singapore could.cover lot only Australia and New Zealand but the Eastern approaches to India.” ANGLO-DUTCH ENTENTE. ' The correspondent adds that naval opinion in Holland and the Dutch East Indies is closely following the scheme, and welcomes the idea of a big naval base at Singapore. An informal AngloDutcK naval entente in the Far East may be realised in the not /distant future. ■