KEY TO THE PACIFIC

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17143, 27 December 1929, Page 5

KEY TO THE PACIFIC

THE SINGAPORE BASE * LABOR POLICY ATTACKED /• -" ' '• ' ' ' ; LONDON, Dec. 24. '.(ln the motion for the adjournment of the ( House of Commons till January 21, ife'*; Frederick -Penny referred to the slowing down of ■ work at Singapore. Sle. asked did the iioveiminent intend i[o,:r«lnnd' the Dominions' contributions which *e're under "false pretences. years, at Singapore and b% the 'key to 'the Pacific. l#ord .Roberts once said that the UisteryV the world would eventually Wrought out therei The cost of the base was a- mere bagatelle compared wiht its value as an Imperial asset, 'ifcfe Labor policy was based on a fundamental error in thinking that anti-war •lining was universal. He hoped the 'jaoremment would keep faith with the Dominions, 'give security to trade, and jwovi'de a greater factor of maintenance ISt, Wmanent peace in the Pacific f'.tttf. A. V., Alexander said it was, necessary'in connection with the naval conference to consider whether any large tipital expendituri was wise proper having regard to the changed circumstances arising from the conference. That was the whole basis of the Mmi3try*9; decision,- which was communicated to the Dominions. It was nnwise and unfair to. say they had obtained money from the Dominions by false pretences. It ; was unreasonable to . m*fce 3UcK a matter a party question. No 4 British' Government ever ran away frOBQ, it* obligations. Sir. Penny interjected: "We do not desire to make party capital, but we are betraying a trust in taking money |f we' eventually close Singapore as a ■fa*e.'" ■ .: ' ©UARANTEfIE OF PEACE I Mr. Alexander said the Dominions i»«re fully informed, and no further protests would oome from them, because the Dominions trusted the Government s 'pledge that before its final decision, they would.be fully consulted. Admiral Beamish: Ha.ve the Dominions expressed ■ any agreement with the slowing down of the work? Mr. Alexander: That is not a point that matters,. The point is that they Will be Sully consulted before finality is reached. In no sense would the Government's decision -to slow down work pending the result of the conference be allowed to become a bargaining factor •at,,the conference. Nothing could be riised • at the • conference denying the tight of the British Commonwealth to look after its own individual interests. ; Mr. o»brge Lambert said that no base could protect east and west commerce, which Was bound to be paralysed in the " went of war gainst Japan. Ho hoped Work at the base wpuld be abandoned. "We sifrned the League Covenant- and the Kellogg Pact,'"he said, "yet we are ibttUdihg a great' battleship base, winch 1m mh a preparation for future, war. Kear-Adrniral T. P. Beamish declared that the Governments action was another ihftance' of the policy of scuttle and surrender to the pacifist outSingapore was as necessary as Gibraltar or Malta. He had no confid♦ttce in Mr. MacDonald as Britain s representative at the naval conference. F Commander Southby said that Singapore would'.*» a guarantee of .world waoe.iand a menace to nobody. -Mr Ia 8 Amery contended that, •ven if the naval conference led to a ■Suction of the. British Navy,, we woukl still Tequire Singapore. Theie must be undiminished power and the right*to co-operate for every part of the Eknpire in common affairs. WORK STILL PROCEEDING SNGAPORK, Dec. 24. The Imperial Government's decision has-not halted work entirely* on the naval base. Excavating and filling are Woceeding actively and the wharf and the power house are under construction. Dredging has been resumed at the %ntrancTto dockyard and the ' Sntractors have built block houses to ■ accommodate 200 of the European staff.