THE SINGAPORE BASE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20875, 15 November 1929, Page 9

THE SINGAPORE BASE

WORK TO BE SLOWED DOWN. THE DOMINIONS INFORMED. STATEMENT IN PARLIAMENT. (United Press Association.) (By Electric Telegrapb—Copyright.) LONDON, November 13. In the House of Commons, Mr A, V. Alexander (First Lord of the Admiralty) said the Government had decided to slow down work at the Singapore base as much as possible, pending the FivePower Conference. Mr F. J. Penny (Con.) asked whether the dominions had been consulted. Mr Alexander stated that they had been informed. THE GOVERNMENT’S POSITION. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, November 13. In his announcement in the House of Commons concerning - the Naval Base at Singapore Mr Alexander explained that the Government had given attention to the question of a continuation of the construction work as soon as it had assumed office. In 1924 the previous Labour Administration had decided not to proceed with the Naval Base at Singapore. Since that date, however, the action of the late Conservative Government had altered the situation very materially. The floating dock bad been provided at heavy expense, and •in September, 1928, a contract had been signed for the buildi..g of a large graving dock at a cost of approximately £4,000,000. Moreover, the bulk of the expense had up to the present time been met by contributions from Hongkong, the Federated Malay States, nd New Zealand. Their, total contributions amounted to £2,ll3,ooo,:.together with the free gift of the site, by the Straits Settlement. The decisions of the Naval Conference might affect the use of this base, and under these circumstances the Governmnt had decided- that the work already contributed for at Singapore was to be slowed down as much as possible, and no new-work would be embarked upon pending the result of the Five-Power Conference. DOMINION’S VIEW OP DECISION. REFERENCE BY EARL JELLICOE. LONDON, November 13. (Received Nov. 14, at 5.5 p.m.) Earl Jellicoe.when presiding at a meeting at Hitchin, referred to the Government’s decision’to retard the Singapore base construction. He said: “I don’t know how the, dominions in the South Pacific will look at the decision, but they have contributed money, and they realise that the base is essential to their security. I.have my doubts as' to how they will take the decision, which I,learn, has been made this evening.” In reference to a reduction of naval armaments, he pointed out that it was a fact that a navy had never been the .cause of war. Moreover, nothing was heard about a reduction of aerial strength, though the- danger to the civil population was infinitely greater from the air than from anything else. COMMENT BY MORNING POST. AN UNWORTHY POLICY. LONDON, November 14. (Received Nov. 14, at 10 p.m.) The Morning Post states: “Apart from the merits of the question of Singapore (hese zigzags, of -policy make a ’rather severe commentary on our system of government. Even a tea shop could not be run successfully on such lines, yet the matter’ concerns the Safety of the "'Empire.” An editorial reviews Australian and New Zealand opinion on the’subject and states that it would be a breach of faith to retreat. It says: “It looks- as if the Government intends to treat Singapore as a bargaining counter and is ready’ to promise to remain defenceless in the'East if certain other powers consent-to modify their building programmes. If .that is its intention we think’the policy is not worthy of a-self-respecting Power.”