SINGAPORE BASE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, 3 July 1925, Page 6

SINGAPORE BASE.

house of lords debate. 1 LONDON, Wednesday. Speaking in the House of Lords, Earl Stanhope said that the extent of the Singapore base was still undci consideration. ■ The Government had not reached a decision regarding the graving dock. The Admiralty considered it cheaper to Build a new dock than to enlarge any existing commercial dock. It was not intended to make a great base like Portsmouth or Devonport. The Government was considering where it was possible to reduce the original plan m accord with what the country was able to afford. During the debate, Earl Balfour sard the fundamental question lie had never heard answered by the opponents of the base was whether any worse economy was conceived than spending sums on a visit of our fleet and >ct not spending an ■ dditional sum to make it available wherever British possessions needed it. He asked how anyone could think Singpore menaced Japan, and yet simultaneously not think that Japan menaced Australia, or believe it impossible that Japan could attack Australia without not also believing you could not attack her from Singapore, the distances between being practically the same.

Earl Balfour said there was a vast military force in Japan, but there vas ho question of there- ever being a military force at Singapore of menacing strength either against Japan or any other power. A force there was only able to be defensively employed. He elaborated the old argument that the best way to secure peace was to be prepared otherwise, although he was most inclined to believe that we were at the beginning of a great peace era. —Aus. and N.Z. Cable Assn.