EARL CAVAN'S TOUR

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19045, 15 December 1923, Page 9

EARL CAVAN'S TOUR

ITS CANCELLATION ANNOUNCED. ABANDONMENT OF SINGAPORE BASE INDICATED. Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright LONDON, December 13. In view of the present circumstances the proposed visit by Earl Cavan (Chief of the Imperial General Staff) to the dominions has been cancelled. The Daily News interprets the cancellation of Earl Cavan’s tour as heralding the possible abandonment of the Singapore base. It says that the Government has seen a red light in respect to this wasteful and foolish project. Under the present circumstances it means that there is now a majority in the House of Commons opposed to a dangerous gamble in spending millions of pounds which are needed to meet economic realities at home.-—Router and Sydney Sun Cable.

REASON BELIEVED TO BE POLITICAL. LONDON, December 14. (Received Dec. 14, at 8.15 p.m.) Some of the newspapers connect the cancellation of Earl Cavan’s' visit to Singapore with the abandonment of the scheme. In well-informed circles the reason given is that in view of any change of Government it would be undesirable to deprive the new War Minister of his principal military adviser.—A. and N.Z. Cable. Recent messages announced that Earl Cavan intended to pay an official visit to inspection to Singapore early in 1924, afterwards coming on to New Zealand and Australia.