IMPERIAL DEFENCE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19964, 4 December 1926, Page 13

IMPERIAL DEFENCE

PROTECTION OF THE EMPIRE. THE CONFERENCE SPEECHES. SINGAPORE BASE PROJECT. ASSISTANCE FROM DOMINIONS. (Frees Association—Hv Telegraph-Copyright.) LONDON, December 2. (Received Dec. 3, at 0 p.m.) The following speech made by Mr Baldwin on Imperial Defence at the Imperial Conference on October 26 was issued to-night;— Mr Baldwin at the outset stressed the rigid adherence of successive Governments to the advisory and consultative character of the Committee on Imperial Defence. He said that throughout all developments the elasticity of the membership of the committee had enabled the dominions and India to take advantage of the facilities of the committee to any extent they desired. “They can,” he snid, “accept, modify, or reject its advice. The opportunities for the personal association of representatives of the dominions with committee since the war have not been numerous, but the question of Imperial defence has been discussed in the greatest detail at the Imperial Conferences, which hare iivVn provided an opportunity for taking stock of the committee's work apart from the personal attendance of Ministers. Nevertheless. the association of the dominions with the committee since the war has been considerable. At present there are 50 snb-committces dealing with the coordination of the fighting services and the auxiliary work of the civilian departments generally. The whole of this offers a great field of co-ordination by the Com mitte on Imperial Defence. I hope that the dominions and India will avail themselves of the advantages of the recentlyestablished Imperial Defence College.” Referring to the Singapore naval base, Mr Baldwin stated that the present programme of work was limited to what was essential to enable the utilisation of the floating dock after its arrival. Meanwhile, the ■ Government had recently decided to adopt the reduced scheme advanced by the Admiralty. At the same time careful investigations had been made in regard to the requisite naval base defences, and the plans of the chiefs of staffs had been approved. The expenditure would be very heavy, even _ after allowing for a reduction of the original Admiralty scheme. The Government had come to the conclusion after the most careful consideration that it was vital to the security of the Empire that this scheme should be proceeded with because it was essential that the fleet should have full freedom of movement throughout the Empire. Ho therefore asked the dominions that were specially interested in the Far East to consider most carefully whether there was any way in which they could co-operate in the development of Singapore either now or within the next few years. There could be no more vain able contribution to the defence -of the Empire as a whole. Considerable progress had been made with the continuous investigation into precautions in the event of air raids and a scheme of insurance against aircraft and bombardment risks had been worked out in the light of war experience. Plans had also been worked out for the insurance of ships and cargoes against war risks. Mr Baldwin added: “Viscount Cecil presides over the Trading and Blockade Sub-committee which is studying all the methods of economic pressure which were inaccurately termed a blockade in the late war.” . . . The Prime Minister outlined the activities of the other sub-committees, and said he hoped that as part of the general policy of improving the methods of communication and consultation on matters of common interest it would be considered how far in the interests of co-ordination in defence the elastic machinery of the Imperial Defence Committee might be further used. The Hoi-ie Government would certainly come into more frequent association and closer co-operation with the committee on all matters affecting the defence of the dominions or the general defence of the Empire. OTHER STATEMENTS. Statements were also made at a further meeting on October 26 by Earl Beatty on behalf of the Chiefs of Staffs and by the Earl of Birkenhead. After subsequent meetings the discussions were resumed at a meeting of the conference on November 15, when speeches were made by Mr Mackenzie King, Mr Bruce, Mr Coates, Mr Havenga, Mr Monroe, and the Maharajah of Burdwan. Mr Mackenzie King, expressing appreciation of the service demonstrations, said that they indicated the need for all parts of the Empire to keep abreast with defence development. He proceeded to describe the Canadian defence organisation. AUSTRALIA’S PART. .Mr Bruce reviewed at length what had been done by Australia in the way of de fence since the passing of the 1923 conference resolutions. He said that the ordinary expenditure on the maintenance of local defence now approximated £5,000,000 a year. The Australian Government in 1924 had also approved of a developmental programme extending over five years at a total cost of £5,000,000 excluding the capital cost of naval construction. Mr Bruce summed up as follows: “Australia in the present five-yearly period, of which this is the third year, is spending £25,000,000 in ordinary maintenance, £5,000,000 for developmental purposes, and £5,250,000 for naval construction and aircraft equipment. This is equal to an annual expenditure of 24s per head of the population throughout the five years, but for the current year the appropriation is over £8,000,000, and the average cost is 27s 2d per head. The guiding principle on which all Australia’s defence preparations are based is complete uniformity with the fighting services of Britain in order that in time of emergency it may dovetail into any formation with which'the Australian forces may bo needed to co-operate. The war establishments of the Brilisli Army are accepted without modification as the war establishments of the Australian army.” Mr Bruce out lined the proposals for an exchange of officers for training purposes and said that the system of an exchange of staff officers with England and Ind’\ would bo regularly maintained He pointed out that Australian officers were at the present time engaged in a flight, including the East Coast of Australia, New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, the Now Hebrides, New Caledonia. Fiji, and Samoa with the object of surveying bases for war and commercial aviation purposes and testing tho suitability of seaplanes for operations in those waters Arrangements were being made for the. provision of oil tanks at Av'lt-ali.-i looking forward to becoming fully self-supporting in the near future in regard to the provision of equipment and munitions. The air servsc-. —n--'d t-n e -dnoed with (be best modern types in the next three vears. Landing grounds were being established mi the ..strategical air routes, besides grounds for ci’d] aviation. Mu Bruce referred to Singapore as a ui,ioc-fi - ou of nrimnrv imnortanee to Australia. It was of the very greatest importance to every part of the Empire, be said, that the trade routes of the world should be ensured in the event of an out break of hostilities. Australia was satisfied that it was essential 'lint there should be a base in the East vhp» tho British

Navy could be quartered in the event of trouble arising in the Pacific, both for the protection of Empire territories and for ensuring the safety of the trade routes. Australia’s final decision was that Singapore should be the place, and it was absolutely essential. While he could not for a second suggest that Australia would contribute towards the construction of the base in view of its remaining commitments, he promised that the position would be discussed by the Commonwealth Parliament, and it would be for Parliament to come to a decision if it thought fit. He concluded by emphasising that Australia still subscribed to the principle that every effort should be made to bring about a limitation of armaments. NEW ZEALAND’S VIEWS. Mr Coates expressed himself as _ impressed with the service demonstrations. He was disposed to think that the army had demonstrated a number of vehicles and machines that could be of practical use not only for military purposes, hut in civil and commercial directions, particularly in overseas countries in connection with pioneering work. He expressed the opinion that the taxpayer was getting the most valuable asset in the army’s work apart from defence. He agreed witli Mr Bruce that it was very hard to separate the parts of the Empire, especially in the case of a dispute. Any dispute which affected one or two portions affected all. He asked if the burden of the construction of the necessary ships could not be borne in greater proportion by the dominions which did not consider themselves so vitally concerned. Singapore was on a basis of that principle. It seemed to be important that offers of assistance from the dominions and India should be made soon. At present it was not practical politics for New Zealand to build cruisers, but she intended to continue the policy of developing her own division of the Royal Navy and to maintain modern suitable cruisers. Continuing, Mr Coates said that the question of New Zealand making a definite annual contribution towards Singapore would be submitted to his Parliament at an early date. He considered that the New Zealand Government would be prepared to increase its share of the burden Britain had to bear to enable her sea supremacy in any particular quarter to become more efficient. The details were nor. being discussed with the Admiralty New Zealand, so far as its military policy was concerned, intended to continue in full agreement with the Defence Committee’s proposals in regard to homosenity of organisation and material and the use of training establishments in Britain, India, and any dominion with whom she could co-operate. New Zealand was anxious to continue air development on co-opera-tive lines with Britain and nossibly Australia. He pointed out that New Zealand’s geocranhical position entered into consideration. SOUTH AFRICA’S POSITION. Mr Havenga detailed the South African military system of deience. Approved coast defences were maintained at table Bay and Simon’s Bay and the question of matting Durban an adequately dexended port was under consideration. South Africa aimed at keeping her military organisation, as far as her resources would permit, in hai’mony with the British Government’s policy, but no person could legally be compelled render personal war service outside South Africa. Therefore the extent of South Africa’s immediate or ultimate participation would depend her national interests in a war being as great that when an emergency should arise special amending legislation would be aceptablec to the country, or on popular interest being great enough to ensure numerous volunteers. He was confident that if the circumstances were such that the Union desired to participate in a war public opinion would be such that no difficulty would be experienced in obtaining an infantry brigade for external service, and a further effort would be forthcoming if the situation developed, it was his opinion that in the present stage in their development the policy of the best service to the Union as well as to the British Commonwealth was that while discharging its present coast defence responsibilities South Africa should devote her available financial resources to training and developing air and land forces. It was these with which South Africa would be able most effectively to assist in the case of a war in which the Union was participating. He suggested that the Committee on Imperial Defence should i-eview the South African coastal defences and consider whether, on the assumption that it would soon be necessary to re-nrm or increase the home ' coastal defences, aircraft could be more efficiently and economically used; and in view of the probable nature and scale of attack against South Africa it should also consider cognate matters. Mr Baldwin accepted the suggestion. NEWFOUNDLAND’S AID. Mr Monroe said that men, especially seagoing, were the only considerable direct contribution that Newfoundland was financially able to offer. DEFENCE OF INDIA. The Maharajah of Burdwan said that India subscribed to the general wish of the department, but she must not fail adequately to provide for her own local defence. The burden of her own defence unfortunately rendered it impossible that she should contribute to the Singapore base. India had accepted the necessity for maintaining uniformity in training methods and equipment throughout the Empire, as far as was practicable.—A. and N.Z. Cable. THE COST OF SINGAPORE. LITTLE HELP FROM DOMINIONS. LONDON, December 3. (Received Dec. 3, at 10 p.m.) Comment regarding the report is generally restrained and non-committal. The Timeh says it is clear that no immediate help may be expected from Australia, New Zealand, or India towards the cost of the Singapore base.—A. and N.Z. Cable. JAPAN AND THE BASE. ATTACKS BY NEWSPAPERS. TOKIO, November 22. Continuing the attack on the Singapore project, the newspapers Kokurain and Chugai Shogyo both warn Britain and Australia that the plan will precipitate an armament race in which Japan will noi heatitate to join. There is not a single divergence in the press from the view that the Singapore base is directed against Japan alone.