THE MEDITERRANEAN

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22904, 11 June 1936, Page 9

THE MEDITERRANEAN

BRITAIN’S FUTURE POLICY

DEFINITE DECISION URGED

(United Press Association) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright)

LONDON, June 10,

(Received June 11, at 0.30 a.tri.)

The Daily Telegraph's naval correspondent says: “Though there is no question of Britain ever totally abandoning the Mediterranean, the spokesman for all three services is strongly urging that a definite decision with regard to Britain’s future policy in the Mediterranean should be taken without delay, for which the early summoning of an Imperial Conference on Defence is suggested, since the matter cannot be settled without consulting the dominions. It is not correct that the Government is planning a big naval base at Cyprus, which is flanked by non-British territory. Moreover, naval experts argue that, with the development of aviation, Cyprus will soon become as vulnerable as Alalia, the future of which is still undecided. The question of Capetown as a possible base for the British battle fleet is already receiving official consideration. It is not generally known that since August a considerable portion of the traflic which normally passed through the Suez canal has been diverted to the Cape route, enabling naval and shipping authorities to gain valuable experience, especially regarding the bunkering and port facilities needed if the whole of the eastern traffic had in certain contingencies to be diverted via the Cape.”