IMPERIAL DEFENCE

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVII, Issue 6, 4 December 1926, Page 4

IMPERIAL DEFENCE

SPEECHES AT CONFERENCE. IMPORTANCE OF SINGAPORE. LONDON, Dec. 2. The speech made by Mr Baldwin on Imperial* defence at the Imperial Conference on October 26 was issued tonight. Mr Baldwin at the outset stressed the rigid adherence of successive Governments to the advisory and consultative character of the committee on Imperial defence throughout all its developments. The elasticity of memberships of the committee enabled the Dominions and India to take advantage of the facilities of the committee to any. extent they desired. “They can,” he said, “accept, modify or reject its advice. Opportunities for personal association of the representatives of a Dominion with the committee since the war have not been numerous, but the question of Imperial defence lias been discussed in greatest detail at the Imperial Conferences. which indeed provided opportunity for taking stock of the copimittee’s work. Apart from the personal attendance of Ministers, however, the association of the Dominionswith the committee since the war has been considerable. At present there are fifty sub-committees dealing with the co-ordination of the fighting services and the auxiliary work of the civilian departments generally. The whole of this is a great field of coordination by the Committee of Imperial Defence. I hope the Dominions and India will avail themselves of the advantage of the recently established Imperial Defence College.” SINGAPORE SCHEME ESSENTIAL.

Referring to the Singapore naval base, Mr Baldwin stated that the present programme of work was limited to what was essential to enable the utilisation of the floating dock after arrival. Meanwhile the Government had recently decided to adopt a reduced scheme advanced by the Admiralty. At the same time, careful investigations had been made with regard to the requisite naval base defences, and the plans of the chiefs of staffs had been approved. The expenditure would be very heavy, even after allowing for reductions in the original Admiralty scheme. The Government came to the conclusion, after most careful consideration, that it was vital to the security of the Empire that this scheme should be proceeded with, because it was essential that the fleet should have full freedom of movement throughout the Empire. He, therefore, asked the Dominions specially interested in the Far East to consider most carefully whether there was any way in which they could cooperate in the development of Singapore, either now or within the next few years. There could be no more valuable contribution to the defence of the Empire as a whole. Considerable progress had been made with the continuous investigation into precautions in the event of air raids, and a scheme of insurance against aircraft and bombardment risks, in the light of war experience, had been worked out. Plans had also been worked out for the insurance of ships and cargoes against war risks. Mr Baldwin added: “Viscount Cecil presides over the trading and blockade sub-committee, which is studying all the methods of economic pressure, which were inaccurately termed a blockade in the late war.”

OTHER ACTIVITIES. Air Baldwin outlined other subcommittees’ activities, and said he hoped, as part of a general policy ol improving the methods of communic-a tion and consultation on matters ol common interest, that it would bo con sidered how far, in the interest ql co-ordination in defence, the elastic machinery of the Imperial Defence Committee might be further used. The Home Government would certainly welcome more frequent association and closer co-operation with the committee on all matters affecting the Dominions or the general defence ol I the Empire. Statements were also made at a I further meeting, on October 26, by Admiral Beatty, on • behalf of the chiefs of staffs committee, and by Lord Birkenhead, and. after subsequent meetings, the discussions were resumed at a meeting of the conference on November 15, when speeches were made by Air Alackenzie King, Air Bruce, Air Coates, Air Havenga, Air Alonroe and the Maharajah of Burdwan . Air Alackenzie King, in expressing appreciation of the service demonstrations, aaid they indicated the need for all parts of the Empire to keep abreast with defence developihent. He proceeded to describe the Canadian defence organisation.

AUSTRALIA’S DEFENCE

Mr Bruce reviewed at length what had been done by Australia in the way of defence since the passing of the 1923 conference resolutions. He said the ordinary expenditure on the maintenance of local defence now approximated five millions sterling annually. The Australian Government in 1924 also approved of a developmental programme extending over five years, at a total cost of five millions sterling, excluding the capital cost of naval construction. He summed up: “Australia in the present five-yearly period, of which this is the third year, is spending twenty-five millions in ordinary maintenance, five milions for developmental purposes, and six and a-quarter millions for naval construction and aircraft equipment, equal to an annual expenditure of £1 4s per head of population throughout the five years, but for the current year the appropriation is over eight millions and the average cost £1 7s 2d per head. The guiding principle on which all Australian defence preparations are based is complete uniformity with the fighting services of Britain, in

order that in timo of emergency it may dovetail into any formation with which the Australian forces may be needed to co-operate. The war establishments of the British Army aro accepted without modification as the war establishments of the Australian Army.” TRAINING OF OFFICERS. Mr Bruce outlined proposals for the exchange of officers for training purposes, and said the system of . exchange of staff officers with England and India would be regularly maintained. He pointed out that Australian officers were at the time engaged in a flight, including the east coast of Australia, New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, New Hebrides, New Caledonia, Fiji and. Samoa, with the object of surveying bases for war and commercial aviation purposes, and to test the suitability of seaplanes for operation in those waters. Arrangements were being made fpr the provision of oil tanks at Darwin. Australia was looking forward to becoming fully self-supporting in the near future. In regard to the provision of equipment and munitions, the Air Service would be equipped with the best modern types in the next three years. Landing grounds were being established on strategical air routes, besides grounds for civil aviation. PRIMARY IMPORTANCE. Mr Bruce referred to Singapore as a question of primary importance to Australia It was of the very greatest importance to every part of the Empire that the trade routes of tire world should be ensured in the event of an outbreak-of hostilities. Australia was satisfied that it was essential that there should be a- base in the East, where the British Navy could be quartered in the event of trouble arising in the Pacific, both for protecting Empire territories and ensuring the trade routes. Australia’s final decision was that Singapore should be the place, and it was absolutely essential. While he could not for a second suggest that Australia would contribute towards the construction, in view of its remaining commitments, he promised that the position would be discussed by tire Commonwealth Parliament, and it would be for Parliament to come to the decision it thought fit. Mr Bruce concluded by emphasising that Australia still subscribed to, the principle that every effort should be made to bring about a limitation of armaments.

SPEECH BY MR COATES. Mr Coates expressed himself impressed with the service demonstrations. He was disposed to think that the Army had demonstrated that a number of vehicles and machines could be of practical use not only militarily, but civilly and commercially, particularly in overseas countries in 'connection • with pioneering work. He expressed the opinion that the taxpayer was getting a most valuable asset in the Army's work, apart from defence. He agreed with Mr Bruce that it was very hard to separato parts of the Empire; especially in case of dispute. Any dispute which affected one or two portions affected all. He asked if the burden' of construction of the necessary ships could not be borne in greater proportion by the Dominions which did not consider themselves so vitally concerned in the Singapore scheme. On the basis of that principle, it seemed important that offers of assistance fronp the Dominions and India should bo made soon. At present it was not practical politics for New Zealand to build cruisers, but she intended to continue the policy of developing her own division of the Royal Navy, and to maintain modern suitable cruisers.

NEW ZEALAND’S SHARE

The question of New Zealand making definite anual contribution towards

ingapore would be submitted to his ailiamcnt at an early date. He conidered that the New Zealand would be jrepared to increase its share of the mrden Britain had to bear to enable sea supremacy in any particular quarter to become more efficient. Details were • low being discussed with the Admiralty. New Zealand, as; far as her military policy was concrncd, intended to continue iii full agreement with the Defence committee’s proposals with regard to homogeneity, organisation, material and the use of training establishments in Britain, India and any Dominion with whom she could co-operate. New Zealand was anxious to continue her air development on co-operative lines with Britain, and possibly with Australia. Air Coates pointed out that New Zealand’s geographical position entered into consideration. Air Havenga detailed South Africa’s military system of defence. He said approved coast defence was maintained at Table Bay and Simons Bay. The question of making Durban an adequately defended port was under consideration. South Africa aimed at keeping her military organisation, as far as her resources would permit, in harmony with the British Government’s policy, but no person could legally be compelled to render personal war service outside South Africa, therefore the extent of South Africa’s immediate or ultimate participation would depend on South Africa’s national interest in a war being so great that when an emergency should arise special amending legislation would be acceptable to the country, or on popular interest being great enough to ensure numerous volunteers.

SOUTH AFRICAN ATTITUDE. Air Havenfa was confident that if the circumstances were such that the Union desired to participate in a war, public opinion would be such that no difficulty would be experienced in obtaining an infantry brigade for external service, and a further effort would be forthcoming jf the situation developed. It was his opinion that in the present stage of their development the policy best serving the Union, as well as the British Commonwealth, was while discharging her present coast defence responsibilities, to devote avail-

able financial resources to training and developing tl),o air and land forces. It was these with which South Africa would be able most effectively to assist in a case of war in -which the Union was participating. . Mr Havenga suggested that the Committee on Imperial Defence should review the South African coastal defences and consider whether, on the assumption that it would soon be necessary to rearm or increase the home coastal defences, aircraft could be more efficiently and economically used, and in view of the probable nature and scale of attack against South Africa it should also consider cognate matters. Mr Baldwin accepted the suggestion. Mr Monroe said men, especially seagoing,l were the only considerable direct contribution Newfoundland was financially able to offer. The Maharajah of Burdwan said In'dia subscribed to the general wish of the department, but must not fail adequately to provide for her own local defence, and the burdens under her own defence unfortunately rendered it lriipossible that she should contribute to the Singapore base. India had accepted the necessity for maintaining uniformity in training methods and equipment throughout the Empire ns far as practicable. Comment regarding the defence report is generally restrained and noncommittal. The Times, says it is clear that no immediate help may be expected from Australia, New Zealand, or India towards the cost of /the Singapore base.—A. and N.Z. cable.