LINKS OF EMPIRE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXI, Issue 19033, 10 June 1924, Page 5

LINKS OF EMPIRE

BRITISH GOVERNMENTS WEAKENING METHODS HON. E. NEWMAN HITS OUT The Hon. Edward Newman, M.L.C., writes to the London Tinies a letter in which he declares that the British Government, by its attitude towards Imperial Preference and the Singapore Base, is adopting the best method of weakening the liaks of Empire. Wcecivcd June 9. 8.30 p.m. (Times). LONDON, June 8. A letter published in the Times from Hon. Edward Newman, a member of the New Zealand Legislative Council, says: If any party or parties in England desired to weaken the links binding the Empire they could not devise a better method of so doing than the course adopted by the Imperial Government during the last few months —first, by its action in regard to preference, and now in what appears to be the final abandonment of the Singapore base. The writer adds: ‘‘Rightly or wrongly, those parts of the Empire bounded by the Pacific consider a base essential to their protection. This opinion is founded on reports given by the highest naval authorities. It is the custom in this country to laugh at the yellow- peril. Australia and New Zealand are inclined to take a different view. These countries are nearer what will probably be the danger zone in the next war than is England, and they know a little more about the subject. Therefore I venture to state that the action of the Government in disposing of the plant assembled for the construction of Singapore will be strongly condemned by many loyal Australians and New Zealanders.