NAVAL PREPAREDNESS

Southland Times, Issue 18931, 3 May 1923, Page 5

NAVAL PREPAREDNESS

THE SINGAPORE BASE ESTIMATES APPROVED BY HOUSE (By Telegraph—Press Assn. —Copyright.) (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) LONDON, May 2. (Received May 2, 7.35 p.m.) In committee on the Naval Estimates, Mr Monsell said that they were asking means to develop the naval base at Singapore to cater for the needs of modern, capital ships. The estimate for the work had been set down by £1,500,000 to £9.000,000, i which was spread over a decade. Mr Lambert moved a nominal reduction in the vote. He opposed the construction of a naval base at Singapore, for which no case had been made out. The question ought to be considered in its relation to the League of Nations, otherwise they were treating the League Covenant as of paper. He asked how it was possible to maintain communications between the Home country and the naval base.,10,000 miles away. Captain Hay, opposed the Singapore project, and asked if Britain was fortifying Singapore against America or Japan.

Mr Penny considered it suicidal not to prepare for any eventuality. The decision to establish a base at Singapore was justifiable.

Mr Derbyshire urged that Britain should take the lead in the league of Nations instead of continually talking about, insuring against war. From his experience of building operations at Singapore he thought they would be jolly lucky if they got out of rhe scheme under £20,000,000. Viscount Curzon said that, they must prepare against war. If they were weak they would invite attack. The Government was acting wisely in providing a base at the gateway of the East. Mr Asquith viewed the proposal with grave apprehension, both on strategic arid financial grounds. He would like fuller knowledge of the genesis of the scheme and naval advise upon which it was put forward. Apart from the expense of establishing the base, what would be the nature of the garrison necessary for its defence, and what was the strategic advice the Admiralty acted upon ? The sole justification must be that the base must put them in a better position, not for aggression, but for protection of sea borne trade and possibly to defend the dominions against possible attack. The proposal might be deferred till the Imperial Conference met. Rear-Admiral Gaunt said that Britain could not afford to stay her hand till the League of Nations functioned. Mr Amery replying, said that Britain had disarmed more completely than any great power, which participated in the Great War. The strength of the British Empire was an essential factor to the League of Nations. Hie Singapore base was part of the essential equipment of the Navy which must be mobile and have a chain of fuel and repair stations. It was no more a menace to Janan, than Portsmouth was to France. The Imperial Conference had approved of the scheme in 1921 and the subject had been closely investigated and reinvestigated for three years. The present Government had confirmed its predecessor's views. The scheme was not contrary, either to the League of Nations or to the Washington Treaty. It was because the Navy had been so largely reduced that fuel and repairing stations were needed. Mr Lambert’s amendment was defeated by 253 votes to 94 and the vote was carried by 274 to 51. LIBERAL NEWSPAPER SUPPORT. GATEWAY TO PACIFIC. LONDON, May 2. (Received May 2, 8.5 p.m.) The Daily Express says that the naval strength of the British Empire is to be moved from the North Sea to the Far East Singapore will become the great naval base of the future. There is no question of preparing for a new war. It is merely a form of insurance. It was of trancendent importance that there should be a naval base at Singapore, both from a political and a stra- j tegical viewpoint. It was obvious that if Gibraltar is the door to the Mediterranean assuredly Singapore was the gateway of ocean traffic westward to the Pacific. A strong fleet at Singapore could practically sever the commercial communications of Europe and the Far East, and moreover Singapore is on the base from which the defence of Australia can be assured.