The Wanganui Chronicle. “NULLA DIES SINE LINEA.” THURSDAY, MARCH 27, 1924. LABOUR AND SINGAPORE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXI, Issue 18974, 27 March 1924, Page 4

The Wanganui Chronicle. “NULLA DIES SINE LINEA.” THURSDAY, MARCH 27, 1924. LABOUR AND SINGAPORE

“We urge you to leave nothing undone which will consolidate and strengthen the Empire’s position in the Far East.” This is the message of the Newfoundland Labour Party to Britain’s Labour Government. In this appeal there is evidence of a sensible and conscientious recognition of Imperial responsibility. The men who framed it are not militarists. It may be taken for granted that the Labour leaders of Newfoundland are as keenly desirous of seeing a reign of peace and concord estab i lished in the world as is the most ardent pacifist here or in any other part of the Empire. But, unlike their coni temporaries in Australia and New Zea- ’ land, they have not permitted their de- ; testation of war—a sentiment by no • means peculiar to Socialistic idealists i—to blind them to the realities of the ■age and the necessity of keeping the Empire effectively safeguarded against a recurrence of the evil they so wholeheartedly abhor. And so, to Mr. Ramsay MacDonald and his colleagues the accredited representatives of Labour in Newfoundland have said “We urge you to leave nothing undone which will consolidate and strengthen the Empire’s position.” The fact that with this message of wisdom is incorporated

an acknowledgment that “the Imperial authorities are the best judges of the necessity of the base” strengthens, rather than weakens, the force of its appeal, and sets it in bold and worthy contrast to the unreasoned condemnation of the Singapore base expressed in the messages of Messrs Holland and Charlton, the representatives respectively of the New Zealand and Australian Labour Parties. The responsible views of the Dominions, as expressed by their Governments, are entirely opposed to the Holland-Charlton attitude, and in this vital matter the" Governments, whatever their partisan colour, undoubtedly speak for the mass of the people. The Dominion view was correctly interpreted by Lord Sydenham when he said that by its decision to “scrap” the Singapore enterprise the MacDonald Government “has deprived the Navy of the means of actting effectively in the Pacific for the protection of Australia, New Zealand, the Malay States, and even India, in addition to the vast volume of food supplies and other trade. It has thus determined to paralyse the right arm of Imperial defence in waters which may become vital to our territorial integrity and commerce, and has violated the solemn undertaking given by its predecessors to the great Dominions, who have hitherto trusted to the sure shield of the Navy.” Our own Viceregal representative, Admiral of the Fleet, Lord Jellicoe, than whom no one is entitled to speak with greater,authority, has just issued a statement which confirms in every particular the accuracy of the views expressed by Lord Sydenham. It is poor satisfaction to these endangered territories to be told that” “Singapore will become necessary when circumstances make it necessary,” because it is apparent that while international circumstances are apt to change with dramatic swiftness, the construction and equipment of a great naval base is an enterprise tKe prosecution of which it would be suicidal to leave to the moment of emergency.