BRITAIN’S DEFENCE.

Timaru Herald, Volume XCVIII, Issue 18084, 17 November 1924, Page 9

BRITAIN’S DEFENCE.

DOMINIONS MUST BE CONSULTED.

By C**>!i* —Proas Association—Copyright. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association

Received 11.5 p.m., Nov. 16 LONDON, Nov. 16

“The Observer” editorially “Australia and New Zealand must be heard concerning the question of the Singapore base. Whitehall cannot settle this matter of Imperial policy by itself. The voice of the Dominions, chiefly concerned must be given at least an equal weight with the arguments advanced for the delay or abandonment of the naval base project for the East.

EFFECT ON AMERICAN POLICY,

NO BREACH OF WASHINGTON PACT.

By Cable —Press Association—Copyright. Aastialian and N.Z. Cable Association. Received 5.5 p.m., Nov. 16. WASHINGTON, Nov. 14.

Mr Curies (Secretary to the Navy) has filed an answer to Senator Shearer’s suit.

Mr Wilbur.says: “The British Empire is permitted a larger capital ship toruiage tlian the United States. 1 The Treaty allowed the latter 527,000, and the British over 540,000 (?) tons The British tonnage is reducible to 658,950, but not to the United States level. '

Mr Wilbur said the scrapping programme had not been completed. The Washington was only 70 per cent completed. When the work was stopped she had lost 15J million dollars, vtfhich loss was reducible by the sale of material. Mr Wilbur refused to answer some of Mr Shearer’s questions, which he characterised as impertinent, immaterial.. He asked for the dismissal of the suit.

The Judge, . in dismissing the Shearer, suit, ruled that Mr Shearer had no legal right, as a'taxpayer, to bring, a suit, and the Court had nb jurisdiction to prevent a Cabinet official using his discretion under the law.

The 1 Navy Department continues to plan to sink the Washington by bombs and gunfire. Mr Shearer is appealing.

,( Cable message from Washington on November 10, said:^—Mr William Shearer, whose charges; that the United States had excessively reduced naval armament were confirmed by Mr Roosevelt and Mr Curies Wilbur, of the Navy Department, has obtained a temporary injunction, arguable on Friday,' restraining Mr Wilbur from sinking the new super-dreadnought Washington, in accordance with the Naval Limitation Treaty. Mr Shearer alleges thkt the destruction of the battleship will cause a loss of 30 million dollars, to the taxpayers. The Arms Conference Treaties, he adds, were not ratified by all the signatories, and he argues that these Treaties are inoperative unless completely and universally ratified. . Mr Shearer suggests that the Washington should be conyerted into ah airplane carrier until Congress clarifies the obligations. He says the Treaties permit Britain and the United States a, maximiim capital ship tonnage of 528,000 each,' but Britain continues to maintain 711,000,.and has failed to scrap four vessels, which the Treaties obligated her to destroy upon the completion of the two new ships, Rodney and Nelson' The charges have caused no concern to the Navy Department, which plans to sink the Washington by detonating high explosive bombs within a designated radius, after which she will be used as a target for gunfire, if still afloat.)