TRUSTING SOULS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXI, Issue 18974, 27 March 1924, Page 5

TRUSTING SOULS

BRITISH GOVERNMENTS ALTRUISM SINGAPORE DECISION A GREAT EXPERIMENT ILLUMINATING UTTERANCES IN THE COMMONS That the decision of the British Government to abandon Singapore does not carry the whole-hearted endorsement of the House of Commons was demonstrated yesterday, when a Conservative motion of protest found 211 supporters as against 287 who stood by the Government. Opponents of the Government’s policy declared that the Dominions had been betrayed, and that betrayal would lay the Empire open to fatal attack. The Government made it perfectly clear that it had not challenged the question of military or naval strategy. In view of America’s reported desire for an international disarmament conference, the Government felt it should make a moral gesture in the hope that there would be some co-operation; the strengthening and enlarging of the League of Nations would be a greater defence of the peace of the world than all the armed forces and new docks that could possibly be built. The Government was going to make a genuine effort at disarmament, and if it failed, would stand by the consequences. The sentiments of opponents of the Government’s policy are summed up in Mr. Massey’s message to Mr. MacDonald. He says: “As long as Britain holds the supremacy of the sea the Empire will stand, but if Britain loses naval supremacy the Empire may fall, to the detriment not only of its people, but of humanity as a whole. It is surely the duty of British Ministers and Parliament to see that, so far as it is humanly possible to prevent it, there will be no danger of such a catastrophe.’’

DEBATE IN THE COMMONS GOVERNMENT’S POLICY CHALLENGED. . I 1 PROTEST MOTION LOST BY 287 TO 211. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Copyright. LONDON, March 25. The debate on the Singapore base was opened by Sir Robert Horne moving a reduction of £lOO in the Navy Estimates, as a protest against the Government ’s policy. said the Governtment, while professing to consult the Dominions, merely announced their decision to the Dominions, and did not give them a chance to do anything after the Government’s judgment. He had never seen a consultation take a more • discourteous form. He emphasised (that the Dominions mainly concerned, ‘Australia and New Zealand, had protested emphatically and expressed dismay at the Government’s decision. Sir • Robert Horne read an extract from Mr i Bruce’s communication, and said it was | impossible to imagine a protest express!ed in graver language. Sir Robert 'Horne said the abandoning of Singapore meant washing our hands of any possible defence of Australia, New Zealand and India. The action of the Government was not a large gesture to the world but a backward nod to supporters behind the Prime Minister. It .was a sop to the pacifists who gave him ’ votes.

* GOVERNM ENT ’8 POLICY DEFENDED. Mr Ammon (Labour) said that notwithstanding the message of Messrs Bruce and Massey, there was a body of Opinion in Australia and New Zealand against the Singapore scheme. The Government had not challenged the question of naval or military strategy & view of the reported desire of 'Americans for an international disarInament conference we should make a moral gesture in the hope that there Would be some co-operation. We prould be in a much stronger position df, after exploring all possibilities, we f were compelled to continue our armament policy. A base at Singapore would undoubtedly hamper the establishment of international confidence, and lay our good faith open to suspicion. Japan was still suffering from the effects of the earthquake, and was unlikely to complete her armaments. tJapan had given every earnest of a jdesire to carry out the Washington {Agreement. The strengthening and enlarging of the authority of the League ®f Nations would be a greater defence tof the peace of the world than all the farmed forces and new docks that could 'possibly be built. THE ONLY ENEMY. Hon. George Lambert (Labour) said Hie only possible enemy to Singapore iras Japan. Assuming that our strength should be 54 per cent above Japan, it Would be necessary for Britain to send |6O warships to Singapore. DOMINIONS BETRAYED. Mr F. G. Penny (Conservative) said the Dominions felt they were betrayed, [t was impossible to run the Empire on :he skimmed milk of sentimental rot. The wishes of the Dominions should be considered in this matter. JAPANESE BOGEY SCOUTED. Hon J. M. Kenworthy (Labour) said that Singapore was useless as a base rhence the communications of an army nought by Japan to Australia could be larassed. Mr Kenworthy had no beief in the bogey of Japanese danger, mt was of opinion the best answer ossible to a Japanese invasion would e a submarine cruiser base somewhere a New Guinea or North Australia. AP EMIGRATION TO AUSTRALIA. Commander Bellairs declared that hen the question of disarmament was raised, the Premier was bound to ’face

mask napkins, Is each; all wool, Petone and Kaiapoi flannel, Is lid yard, the question of Japanese emigration to Australia. We desired Japan to find room for expansion, but not at the expense of the British Empire—Australia or elsewhere. EMPIRE, SAFETY JEOPARDISED Commander Burney (Conservative) said the Government policy was destructive of confidence of Australia and New Zealand in our determination to guarantee their safety and security in the event of war. It would jeopardise the safety of the Empire. The British Isles were permanently overdocked. Britain should redistribute the docks as she redistributed ships, and use the money now spent at Chatham upon the dock at Singapore. FRESH CONFERENCE URGED Mr Amery (First Lord of the Admiralty in the Baldwin Government) declared that the Dominions had doubts and suspicions regarding Britain’s good faith towards them. He asked what had become of all the advanced status of the dominions since 1914? He declared that if an agreement reached after consultation by the Empire Prime Ministers should be thrown aside to suit party exigencies that was the end of the present system of Empire. He suggested a fresh conference with the Dominions, to enable a real consultation in place of an autocratic telegram telling them 4 ‘what we are going to do.”

THE GOVERNMENT’S VIEWPOINT. GENERAL EFFORT AT DISARMAMENT. STRATEGIC ASPECT NOT CONSIDERED. Received March 26, 8.55 p.m. LONDON, March 26. Mr J. H. Thomas, Secretary of State for the Colonies, replying to the debate, said the Government had been accused of insulting the Dominions. The Government cabled the dominions when it decided not to spend any more money on Singapore. Was that evidence of insult? The Government discussed Singapore when the Dominion’s representatives were here. Later, a full statement was sent to the dominions. When the replies were received, Cabinet considered them, and the dominions were told quite plainly the Government proposed to make this statement after considering their case. The Government did not consider the question from a strategic, but from a different viewpoint. It was going to make a genuine effort at disarmament. If it succeeded there would be no regrets; if it failed it would stand by the consequences. THE MOTION DEFEATED LIBERAL VOTE SPLIT. Received March 26, 8.55 p.m. LONDON, March 26. Sir Robert Horne’s motion was rejected by 287 votes to 211. The Liberal vote was split. FINE FIGHTING SPEECH Received March 26, 10.5 p.m. LONDON, March 26. Sir Robert Horne’s speech, which is described by the Daily Chronicle as the best fighting speech from the Conservatives since Mr MacDonald took office, aroused frequent Opposition cheers.

PROPOSED INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE PRESIDENT COOLIDGE READY TO ACT. NOT HOPEFUL OF RESULTS. Received March 26, 9.15 p.m. NEW YORK, March 25. The New York Times’ Washington correspondent learns that President Coolidge, while wholeheartedly favouring further limitation of armaments, believes the present time is inopportune therefor. The House of Representatives, meanwhile, has adopted an amendment to the Naval Appropriations Bill, requesting President Coolidge to consult the Powers with a view to calling such a conference, and if the Senate approves the suggestion, President Coolidge will undoubtedly act in accordance therewith. President Coolidge, nevertheless, is of opinion that nothing can be accomplished in this direction because several Powers who took part in the Washington Conference arc strongly opposed to limitation of submarines, aircraft and auxiliary craft as envisaged in the so-called Hughes Plan (suggesting a five-five-three ratio). President Coolidge further believes that the causes which prompted this opposition have in no w T ay abated. Therefore, little real limitation is probable. Nevertheless President Coolidge sees the possibility of further modifying international law, also other agreements which are likely to bring realisation of the futility of competitive armament. MR MASSEY’S MESSAGE A VIGOROUS PROTEST. (Per Press Association). I WELLINGTON, March 26. Following is the text of Mr. Massey’s reply on behalf of the New Zealand Government, forwarded through, his Excellency the Governor-General to the Prime Minister of Great Britain with reference to Mr. Ramsay MacDonald’s communication intimating the decision of the Government regarding the Singapore base: “I regret exceedingly that the Government of the United Kingdom does not intend to proceed with, what is looked upon as one of the most important proposals connected with the defence of the Empire. The foremost naval authorities available have stated in no uncertain terms that a modern fleet canont operate without a properlyequipped base, and in their opinion there is no place so suitable for protecting those portions of the Empire which are situated in the Pacific and Indian Oceans as that which may be provided at Singapore. India, Australia, New Zealand and a number of Crown colonies are intensely concerned in this matter, and are looking to the present British Government to remember that every country of the Empire, and every citizen of the Empire are entitled to protection from the possibility of attack by a foreign foe. It is well to remember here that Singapore is intended for defensive, and certainly not for offensive, purposes, and ‘hat the establishment of a naval base at Singapore would constitute no more of a threat to Japan than Gibraltar could be considered a threat to the United States of America or any other foreign Power. The New Zealand Parliament last session voted £lOO,OOO as an earnest of its anxiety that the fortifications of Singapore should be proceeded with, and it will not stop at that. America has in recent years fqrtified Pearl Harbour in the North Pacific, and wellqualified naval experts say it is now impregnable, and that 'dbo naval position of America has been strengthened accordingly. Fortunately, the United States of America is a friendly nation, and, so far as it is possible to judge, will remain as such for centuries to come, and I hope for all time. We in New Zealand, separated from the heart of the Empire by 13,000 or 14,000 miles of sea, realise what it means to be insufficiently protected. Wo have not forgotten what the Royal Navy and the British mercantile marine suffered in the Pacific during the years of the Great War, and we had hoped that the lesson taught then would not be so quickly forgotten. You say that your Government stands for international co-operation through a strengthened and enlarged League of Nations. In reply to that, 1 must say that if the defence of the Empire is to depend upon the League of Nations only then it may turn out to have been a pity that the League was ever brought into being. The very existence of the Empire depends upon the Imperial Navy, and if in the event of war the navy is to operate successfully it must have suitable bases from which to work and where repairs may be effected. The nearest suitable base at present is Malta, which is 6000 miles away, and therefore of no value for the purposes of capital ships, in either the Pacific or Indian Oceans. An eminent authority has said that unless such a base as that contemplated at Singapore is established it will be an absolute impossibility for the majority of the Empire capital ships to operate to the eastward of Suez, for the simple reason that they cannot dock either for the purpose of cleaning—and so keeping their speed— or of being repaired. It may also be pointed out that the League of Nations, although it is undoubtedly an influence for peace, has not so far been able to prevent hostile action as between nations. Naval supremacy is essential. I may remind you that owing to the alterations in ship designs since the Great War, a dock which would have taken certain classes of warships before 1914 will not now accommodate ships of similar tonnage, and so it is not possible to maintain the present standard of naval efficiency without the proposals regarding Singapore being given effect to. On behalf of New Zealand I protest earnestly against the proposal to make Singapore a strong and safe naval station being abandoned, because I believe that as long as Britain holds supremacy of the sea the Empire will stand, but if Britain loses naval supremacy the Empire may fall, to the detriment not only of its own people, but of humanity as a whole, and it is surely the duty of British Ministers and the British Parliament to see that, so far as it is humanly possible to prevent it, there will be no danger of such, a catastrophe. ’ ’

CORRESPONDENCE PUBLISHED GENERAL SMUTS AGREES WITH DECISION. LONDON, Marell 25. The Singapore correspondence has been published. General Smuts, in expressing wholehearted agreement with the Government’s policy, declares that the proposed base would be out of keeping with the spirit of the Washington Agreement. He sincerely trusts that Mr Bruce and Mr Massey will acquiesce, because there can be no real security promised for them in Singapore, for European troubles will probably synchronise with any future tension in the Pacific, and make it impossible to move the navy to Singapore. MR W. M. HUGHES’ OPINION Received March 26, 8.30 p.m. NEW YORK, Marell 25. Commenting on Singapore Base, Mr. W. M. Hughes, ex-Prime Minister of Australia, said that Mr. MacDonald, apparently with Mr. Asquith’s support, had abandoned the project. “I cannot accept this decision as final. I think a majority of Britons favour a naval policy adequate to protect the Empire. This-will undoubtedly be revived by the Conservatives.” LORD JELLICOE’S VIEWS BASE ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL. (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, March 26. Viscount Jellicoe regrets exceedingly the Government’s decision. He points out that the foremost naval authorities had stated that a modern fleet would be unable to operate without a properlyequipped base, and for the protection of portions of the Empire situated in the Pacific and the Indian Oceans there is no place so suitable as Singapore. The matter intensely concerns Australia, India, New Zealand, and a number of Crown Colonies who are looking to the present British Government, which should remember that every citizen and every country of the Empire is entitled to protection from the possibility of attack by a foreign foe. Singapore is wanted for defensive purposes, and is no more a threat to Japan than Gibraltar to the United States. New Zealanders hoped the lesson of the sufferings of the navy and mercantile marine in the Pacific during war time would not so quickly have been forgotten. The very existence of the Empire depends on the navy. An eminent authority had declared that, unless a base like Singapore is established, it would be absolutely impossible for the majority of the Empire capital ships to operate East of Suez.