BASE AT SINGAPORE.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 March 1924, Page 5

BASE AT SINGAPORE.

SCHEME TO BE DROPPED.

THE DECISION DELAYED. CONSULTING DOMINIONS. AWAITING THEIR VIEWS. Jff Telegraph-Press Assn. —Copyright. Received March 7, 5.5 p.m. London, March 6. A committee of the Cabinet recommends th.at the Singapore base question te dropped. It is understood the Government has communicated to the Dominion Governments its decision not to proceed with., the Singapore scheme. It is understood that the Government awaits the replies from the Dominions regarding the decision to abandon the Singapore base before announcing its decisions in the House of Commons. GOVERNMENT’S INTENTIONS. WORK MAY BE POSTPONED. London. March 6. The Daily Express states that it is generally believed Cabinet will not recede from its earlier decision to postpone operations at the Singapore base, in view of the need of money for more urgent works. Reuter says that the newspaper report that Cabinet has decided not to proceed with the Singapore base is not confirmed officially. A Cabinet committee, under the ‘chairmanship of Mr. Clynes. is considering the scheme, and hai not yet reported. An official, interviewed, said the question was so important that the decision would probably be first announced in Parliament. The report may or may not be correct, but it is premature. He hoped the committee would report to the Cabinet next week. Perth, March 7. Speaking in replv to Mr. S. M. Bruce, Mr Charlton ( Leader of the Federal Labour Party) said the Labour Party would never be a party to the establishment of a naval base at Singapore. DOMINIONS SHOULD BEAR COST. London. March 6. It is reported that an influential section of the Ministry considers that, if Australia and New Zealand attach so much importance to the Singapore base, as being necessary to their defence, they should bear a substantial proportion of the ten millions, the estimated coat. It is altogether wrong to assume this represents the considered opinion of the Government, because the Cabinet has not considered the question beyond suspending operations temporarily.