IMPERIAL DEFENCE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXI, Issue 18823, 13 July 1923, Page 5

IMPERIAL DEFENCE

AIRCRAFT OR CAPITAL SHIPS? DEBATE IN HOUSE OF LORDS By Telegraph.—Press Association. —Copyright. Received July 12, 10.30 p.m. London, July 12. Lord Wimborne, in the House 01 Lords, moved that in view of the growing importance of air power, the contemplated expenditure under the naval air estimates was disproportionate. Lord Linlithgow said the Singapore base was by far the cheapest way of rendering British sea power effective in the Far East that could be conceived. Lord Haldane asked against whom was the Signa pore naval base directed? Was it the United States or Japan? He failed to see how our general eominand of the sea was at this moment imperilled. Home air defence was more important than security in the Far East. People had not fully realized we were now a Continental nation. Lord Long deprecated the attempt to institute a comparison between aircraft and the capital ship in order to secure more money for the air force. Viscount Grey agreed that the Government had no choice except to increase expenditure on the air force, but, essential as the expenditure was. it was the beginning of new competition in armaments which would inevitably lead to a war worse than the last, and one from which European civilisation would never recover. He urged the Government to take all possible steps for international limitation or armaments. If war with Japan did occur, in which the United States and the British Empire would be on the same side, he was not at all sure the construction of a dock at Singapore was the best way to prepare for the contingency. Lord Wimborne's motion was negatived without division.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.