BRITISH FORCES AT SINGAPORE

Southland Times, Issue 24600, 24 November 1941, Page 4

BRITISH FORCES AT SINGAPORE

NO REQUEST LIKELY FOR N.Z. TROOPS

(P.A.) CHRISTCHURCH, Nov. 23. “We have no military alliance with China,” replied Mr A. Duff Cooper, British Cabinet Minister, who is on a special mission to the Far East, when he was questioned today. Material and equipment, he added, had been sent to China in the past from Britain and from the United States under the - Lease-Lend Act. Plenty of supplies were now going to China by the Burma road. That there was not the slightest chance of the Burma road being again closed for the supply of war materials to China was indicated by Mr Duff Cooper when his attention was drawn to the fact that the Australian Government had supported its last closing. “I think the Netherlands Government is quite satisfied,” said Mr Duff Cooper when he was asked to comment on reports that dissatisfaction was felt in the Netherlands East Indies over the reported unwillingness officially of the British Government to pledge assistance to the East Indies in the event of a Japanese attack. COST OF NAVAL BASE Questioned on the strength of the forces at Singapore, Mr Duff Cooper said he did not know anything about further reinforcements and he did not think that New Zealand would be asked to send any men for the army there. Singapore and the whole of Malaya had been very much reinforced lately. He did not think a call would be made on New Zealand or Australia for further financial contributions towards the Singapore naval base. The appointment of an official representative from New Zealand at Singapore was not considered necessary by Mr Duff Cooper, who, answering a question, said that the British Government kept very closely in touch with the Australian and New Zealand Governments.

Mr Duff Cooper was unable to say how long his mission to the Far East would occupy him. tie said he was flying straight back to Singapore and would wait instructions from the British Government there.