SAFETY OF THE EMPIRE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19018, 14 November 1923, Page 7

SAFETY OF THE EMPIRE

ADEQUATE FORCE ESSENTIAL. IMPORTANCE OF SINGAPORE SPEECH BY MR MASSEY. Frees Association—By Telegraph—Copyright LONDON, November 12. The Duke of Devonshire presided it a British Empire League dinner to Mr Massey. Mr Massey, replying to the toast of his health, said that the results of the -'ouference remained to he seen, but he believed that the work which had been done was well worth doing. It was a pity that the Conference could not meet oftener, but that was impossible until there was an improvement in transit by Sea or air. He welcomed the recent reference of the Prince of Wales to the importance of travel in order to get an idea of the potentialities of the Empire. He regretted that British -Ministers did not travel as often as they ought to. “Judging bv recent happenings, said Mr Massey, “they do not travel until they cease to be Ministers.” Referring to defence, he said he- had no fault to find with the organisations which had been formed to promote peace, “but,” ho said, “not one of these organisations Can prevent war if a nation states its mind on that form of arbitrament. Mr Massey said 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 Singapore been discussed inside and outside the Conieience room, and so far as he was able to judge the work there would be proceeded with. Lord Jellicoe had told him years ago'Mhat Australia and New Zealand would never be safe until Singapore i«camc a naval base. New Zealand had voted £IOO,OOO towards the work. While this would not go very far, it was an earnest of what might happen later, and a proof of New Zealand’s feeling in the matter. Anything in the way of defence should bo above and beyond party. The Suez Canal was one of the most important arteries of British trade, and the Conference had not forgotten this. There were other gates of Empire which re q uired attention at a time of national stock-taking, such as the Falkland Islands and, incidentally, (Gibraltar, where no British Government would permit vnvthing serious to happen. Although they could not sav that the Dardanelles was under British control, still it was m Britain’s interests to see that a trade route remained through the Straits, and that there would be no danger of a reinstatement of the forts which were an important factor in the Gallipoli campaign. While he was not anxious to see a standing army or navy greater than was required, he insisted upon a sufficiency against trouble. The cost of defence was a national insurance which had ■to oe met.—A. and N.Z. Cable. TRIBUTE TO NEW ZEALAND. FAMED FOR ITS,PATRIOTISM. LONDON, November 13. (Received Nov. 13, at 7.45 p.m. ) The Duke of Devonshire paid a tribute to the vigorous support which Mr Massey invariably gave to every British undertaking. He had been a real help and encouragement at the conference. The Earl of Balfour, who represented Great Britain at the Washington Conference, said that Singapore had most unhappily been made a 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 Hie Pacific _ arrangements in order that Britain might do as she liked. The Earl of Balfour added that Mr Massey represented one of the dominions which was famed for its Imperial patriotism. If any part of the British Empire, from top to bottom, was purely British in sentiment and aspirations, it was the country which Mr Massey represented.—A. and N.Z. Cable.