BRITISH POLITICS

Otago Witness, Issue 3671, 22 July 1924, Page 21

BRITISH POLITICS

SINGAPORE BASE. LONDON, July 14. In the House of Lords Viscount Chelmsford (First Lord of the Admiralty) replying to a question, said that the Government was not standing still with reference to Singapore. It was still exploring the situation. Since Mr MacDonald s statement in March the United States, Japan, France, and Italy must have considered the position. Viscount Haldane (Lord Chancellor) admitted that Singapore was wholly outside the boundary fixed at Washington, and he also admitted Australia and New Zealand’s displeasure at the Government s decision. The question was the effect on the Government’s general foreign policy if a new base were established which might be an instrument of offence as well as defence —something dominating the whole of the Pacific. The Government was endeavouring to keep the navy efficient, L-ord Haldane said, but Singapore went beyond that, and added a new weapon which it was not good for the navy to possess. The establishment ol a new base was irreconcilable with the Government’s foreign policy, which aimed at making the world better. That policy might fail, but it was a policy on which the Government meant to stand or fall. Lord Linlithgow said the country had not been treated fairly with reference to Singapore. He was of opinion that the abandonment was more a gesture to the labour extremists than to any foreign Power. ECONOMIC CONFERENCE. LONDON, July 14. Replying to a question in the House of Commons Air J. H. Thomas (Colonial Secretary) said the Government did not contemplate holding an Empire Economic Conference this year. CORONATION STONE. LONDON, July lb. There was great hilarity in the nouse of Commons when Mr D. Kirkwood (Labour) introduced a Bill to provide for the removal of the Scottish Stone ol Destiny from Westminster Abbey to Holyrood Palace. Mr Kirkwood said that, according to tradition, this stone was Jacob’s pillow at Bethel when he was fleeing before his brother Esau. Jacob’s family took it to Egypt. The Kings of Egypt long possessed it, and it was then taken to Ireland. He did not know qhether that was true, but anyhow the stone was ot Scottish sandstone, and it lay at Scone for five centuries, until it was brought to England by Edward I. The stone was a symbol of Scottish nationhood, and was a venerable relic. Scotland had tried repeatedly to get it returned to Scotland, but there was a sentiment in London against its return. Lord Apsley (Con.), in opposing the Bill, said tradition stated that the stone was to have been presented to the Pope as a reward for converting Scotland to Christianity. The god Odin was incensed at another deity who had been making eyes at his wife, and threw the stone at his head, hut it fortunately missed and fell in Scotland. . The Bill was read a first time by H)1 votes to 171. MERCHANDISE MARKS BILL. LONDON, July 16. Sir Guy Gaunt’s Merchandise Maries Bill has been practically killed as the result of two abortive meetings of the Standing Committee of the House ot Commons, to whom the Bill was committed for consideration. The measure will go to the bottom of the list referred to the committee, which at this stage of the session means the end of the Bill. THE COLONIAL SECRETARY. LONDON, July 16. In the House of Commons, in replying to Mr A. Barnes (Labour), who suggested the alteration of the title of Secretary ot State for the Colonies so as to include the dominions, Mr J. R. Clynes said that the question had been considered periodically during the last few years, but it was always felt that there was no pressing need or desire for change. LEGITIMACY BILL. LONDON, July 18. The Legitimacy Bill was returned to the House of Lords, owing to the fact

that it had not passed all its legislative stages before the end of the session. The House of Lords passed an amendment which the House of Commons rejected. LABOUR AND CONSERVATIVE. LONDON, May 19. Mr Oswald Mosley (son-in-law of lmrd Curzon) has accepted the Labour Party’s invitation to contest Mr Neville Chamberlai’s seat at next election.