THE SINGAPORE BASE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19135, 1 April 1924, Page 7

THE SINGAPORE BASE

BUSINESS MEN TAKE A HAND. REVERSAL OF DECISION DESIRED. Pr«M Awxittiot —Bj Tol«*r»pl»—Covfrtxlrt LONDON, March 50. A powerful movement has been initiated by London business interests through the Navy League, to secure a reversal of tbp Government’s Singapore decision. A meeting of business men in the Lity of London advocated the construction of the Singapore base, and adopted a resolution deploring the Government's decision to abandon the scheme without proper consultation with the dominions, and declaring that its abandonment would imperil the Empire s security, and prejudice, instead of promote, peace and disarmament. Lord Gurzon declared that if the dominions were attacked while they were inadequately protected the London merchants would i eel under the shook, as a consequence of the danger to their important trading into rests in the Pacific. The Liberals who upheld Labour were mistaking timidity for caution, and sacrificing safety for a phrase. Mr L. C. Amery (First Lord of the Admiralty in the Baldwin Government) declared that only through Singapore could Britain go to the defence of the dominions or the dominions come to help Britain. The liovernmeni bad not con suited, but had insulted, the dominions. Mr Winston Churchill said the Government’* decision was an act of repudiation, and a blunt and unprecedented refusal to perform an Imperial duty. Mr Baldwin wrote stating that he was unable to understand tho mentality of people who regarded the Singapore project aa provocative. Mr MacDonald* moral gesture would be interpreted abroad a* weakness. The Government had shown the dominions scant courtesy. Mr Baldwin said he was confident that when the British people realised the significance of the decision sufficient pressure would do applied to compel its reversal.—Sydney Sun Cable. GENERAL MAURICE'S VIEWS. POSTPONEMENT MAY BE ADVANTAGEOUS. LONDON, March 00. Major-General Sir Frederick Maurice (formerly Director of Military Operations), interviewed, said ho considered that Mr MacDonald had not definitely abandoned Singapore, but was deferring its construction until further negotiations along tho lines of the Washington Conference had been held, and till it was disclosed whether bases for battleships were necessary. General Maurice pointed out that Mr Baldwin had proposed to allow' ten year# for the construction of the base, wh’ch could bo constructed in five years; therefore if Mr MacDonald's negotiations in the direction of international peace, failed, he did not see that much harm would result from the present postponement —indeed, it might prove advantageous, because the conditions might materially alter through change in the type of battleship which had made the dock necessary. Further modification might require an entirely different dock. General Maurice personally favoured the pokey of postponing the construction lill the last moment, and then building rapidly to ensure obtaining the latest ideas. He believed regarding Singapore that, the necessary question was whether it should be a main Meet or a cruiser base.—Sydney Sun Cable.