SINGAPORE BASE.

Waikato Times, Volume 97, Issue 15229, 4 May 1923, Page 7

SINGAPORE BASE.

LIBERAL OPPOSITION.

AMENDMENT NEGATIVED.

Australian and N.Z. Cable Assn LONDON, May 1.

In Committee on the Naval Estimates, Commander Eyres Monsell, Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty, said that the Government was asking for means to develop the naval base at Singapore to cater for the needs of modern capital ships. The estimate for the work had been cut down by £1,500,00 to £9,500,000, which would be spread over ten years. Mr G. Lambert (Liberal) moved a nominal reduction of the vote. He said he was opposed to the construction of a naval base at Singapore, for which no case, had been made out. The Question ought 'to be considered in its relation to the League of Nations, otherwise they were treating the League covenant, as a-scrap of paper. He asked how it would be possible to maintain communications between the Home Country and a naval base 10,000 miles away. \

Mr 11. 11. Asquith (Liberal) said he viewed the proposal with grave apprehension, both on strategic and financial grounds. lie would like to know the fuller genesis of the scheme and the naval -advice)- upon which it had been put forward. Quite apart from tlie expense in establishing the base, what would be the nature _of the garrison for its , defence? What strategic advice had the Admiralty acted upon? The sole justification must be that the base would'put the Navy in a better position, not for aggression, but for the protection of the sea-borne Irado and possibly to defend Hie Dominions against a possible atlack. The proposal might he deferred till the Imperial Conference.

Rear-Admiral Sir Guy Count (Conservative) said that Britain could not afford to stay her hand till the League of Nations functioned.

* Captain J. P-. Hay (Labour) opposed the hake, and asked if Britain were fortifying against the United States or Japan. Mr P. G. Penny (Conservative) considered that it would be suicidal not to prepare for the eventuality of war. The decision to establish a base at Singapore was extremely wise. Mr C. W. Darbishire (Liberal) urged Britain to take a lead in tbe League of Nations instead of continually talking about insuring against war. From bis experience of building operations in Singapore be, thought the Government would he jolly lucky if it got out of the scheme under £20,000,QOO.

Viscount Curzon (Conservative) said that Britain must be prepared against war; being weak would invite attack. The Government would be acting wisely in providing a base at tbe gateway of the East. No Menace to Japan.

Colonel L. C. M. S. Ahiery, First Lord of the Admiralty, replying, pointed out that Britain has disarmed more completely than any Great Power which participated in the Great War. The strength of the British Empire was an essential factor in the League of Nations. The Singapore base was part of the essential equipment of the Navy, which must ho mobile and have a chain of fuel and repairing stations. It was no more a menace to Japan than Portsmouth was to France.

The Imperial Conference had, approved the scheme in 1921, The subject had been closely investigated and reinvestigated over three years. The present Government had confirmed its predecessors’ views. The scheme was not contrary either to the League of Nations or the Washington Treaty. It was because the Navy was so largely reduced that that the fuel and repairing stations s were needed.' The Empire’s fate might be decided in the neighbourhood. -

Mr Lambert’s amendment was defeated by 253 to 94, and the vote was carried by 274 to 51.

. The Daily Express states that the naval strength of the British Empire is to be moved from the North Sea to the Far East. Sngapore will become the great naval base of the future. There is no question of preparing for a new war. It is merely a form of insurance. The transcendant importance of a naval base at Singapore from the strategic point of view is obvious. If Gibraltar is the door of the Mediterranean, assuredly Singapore is the gateway of ocean traffc to tlie Pacific. A strong fleet at Singapore could practically sever commercial communication between Europe and the Far East. Moreover Singapore is one base from which the defence of Australia can be assured.