SINGAPORE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17572, 24 June 1925, Page 14

SINGAPORE.

NAVAL BASE ADVOCATED necessary for vital SERVICES. E.V Telegrapii.— Press Assn. Copyright. ' Aus. & x.Z. Cable Association. I.OXDOX, June 23. I h A aughan ( ornish. lecturer to naval and military officers during the war on strategic geography, in a paper 0,1 ‘ Singapore and Naval Geography" presented to the Royal Colonial institute this afternoon, pointed out: “It is in North America and Australia that national status is a practical question lor Japan, and it is mainlv in the monsoon region of Asia, including Tndia. China and Japan, that the problem of achieving harmony of ‘colour’ confronts the British Empire." Aiter technically surveying the Empire's strategical sea routes. Dr Cornish said: One great remediable gap is at the passages to the Indian Ocean be tween the East Indian Islands, and, therefore, the claims of Singapore are ol paramount importance." ’’Singapore/' he said, “is the British Navy s new Eastern capital. It is the meeting place of the maritime Avars from the north-west. north-cast and south-west. It is also a haven on the airways and a. really necessary aerodrome between India and Australia. The word ‘ Singapore ’ has come to have associations with the White Australia policy, which is described, not in a critical spirit, as an effort to prevent congested .Asiatic populations colonising the empty lands. Actual!a- it docs not do so, because the Asiatic coolie has empty lands at his own country’s doors. “A naval base at Singapore will ensure Britain s voice being heard in the settlement of affairs in China. The view that the project is provocative ignores the essential fact that, unless communications across the Indian Ocean arc secured, a united British Empire can only continue by- the sufferance of foreign PoAvers.”