The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1923-09-05
SINGAPORE NAVY
BASE SEEN AS
THREAT
British Labor Fights Plan for
Development As Move
Toward War.
BY LUTHER A. HUSTON,
International News Service.

By LUTHER A. HUSTUN,
international News Service.
LONDON, Sept. S. - Is Britain'S
plan for q huge naval base at Singa-
pore a bulwark of the Empires de-
Tense or a gesture Of preparation
for the next war?
This issue was clearly raised by
opponents of the scheme during the
debate in the House of Commons
which preceded passage Of the naval
vote for funds to construct the
Singapore stronghold. Arguments
that fertilization Of Singapore sig
mails the beginning Of a new race OF
ornaments that will lead England
into war with America or with
Japan were hurled at the govern
ment by parliamentarians opposed to
spending huge sums to Develop the
proposed naval base in the Pacific.
Counter arguments Of government
supporters, Of course, disclaimed all
purpose of building for another war
and protested Britain'S peaceful In.
tentions. The vigor Of the attack,
however. left no room for doubt
that much sentiment exists In 70.
sponsible British public opinion that
the Singapore plan 10 merely a con.
tinu0tion Of the armament race
which eliminated In 1914 in the
great world war.
Labor Leads Attack.
Labor led the attack upon the
Singapore scheme. with many Lib
eral members supporting the Labor.
ties. The Labor men frankly
charged the government with pre-
pairing for q new war and warned
that the workers Of the country
would not rally to the support Of
the nation az they did In the Last
great conflict
THE working people Of this
country are convinced that the time
has come for making a more def
mite stand against war;" said Jack
Jones, ever an outSpoken champion
OF Labor's policies. LET those who
make wars fight them, for the
workers won't"
The specter of q race war be.
tween the white men and the yellow
races was raised by several
speakers. Captain John Hay, a
Laborite, was among them.
after the greatest Of all wars.
war to end war;" he said, I'VE
are looking forward to and prepar.
ing for another war which may
mean the end Of the white man.
This base can only be meant
against one power, Japan. Our
people would never tolerate the
idea Of war with America. That
being 30, the war, when 1t comes.
will be a race war, white against
yellow. and the yellow man prob
ably will be reinforced by the black.
The government 10 throwing out q
challenge that will stimulate naval
ornaments In Japan and in the
Dutch East Indies. The govern
ment is gambling with the fate OF
the Empire"
Sees War With Japan.
George Lamber. a Liberal. like.
wise saw threat Of war with
81 hate to talk about a war with
Japan" he declared but this
scheme makes one think Of it,"
The governments contention that
the Singapore base was needed for
the defense Of the Empire was
openly scoffed at by Alfred Short.
one Of the leaders Of the Labor
party.
Against whom IL this defense
needed?" he asked. Similar poll
cies have been pursued hitherto by
European nations and 1t has not
dispelled the fears, suspicious and
hatreds that have been engendered
and have eliminated in war. We
have no guarantee that we shall
develop this base merely as a de-
tense for our. trade and that 1t
will not end finally in war"
Government supporters did not
deny the charge that the possibility
Of future wars was a consideration
figuring in the Singapore proposal.
Preparation for war as a guarantee
of peace was frankly urged by sew
eral Conservative members.
For heavens sake, be prepared
for war" was the admonition hurled
by Admiral Sir Guy Gaunt, q vet
eran fighter of the British Navy.
"A base at Singapore 10 important
for peace purposes and Il you don't
keep abreast Of the times you are
going under. Let us keep our en-
pire. Give US Singapore and you
will then be fairly safe-it 10 on
the direct line to Australia"
Object to Cost.
Admiral Gaunt's view was sup
ported by Sir Frederick Banbury
in a candid Tory broadside.
1.-THE only precaution for peace
and against war Is to prepare for
war and to show other countries
that we intend to protect our posi-.
tion," he said. IF England will
learn the lessons of the war we will
have a strong army and navy"
Strong attacks also were made
against the proposal by members
who argued that the cost would
eventually far exceed the original
estimate OF approximately $50, 000,-
900. Commander Kenworthy, q
Liberal, contended that it would be
necessary to double the fleet and
build up a strong air force ito de.
fend this nerve center OF the EN-
pire" Kenworthy declared that II
there was danger of a war with
Japan, Singapore was a strong
strategical point. but he scoffed at
the idea that England ever would
fight Japan.
Lady Aston also raised a protest
against the plan, albeit the protest
was a mild one. She expressed
regret that the government had not
waited until after the imperial con-
ference. which is to be held soon,
before considering the base at Singa.
pore. She declared, however, that
II I'VE are really to have a progress.
sive civilization the Anglo Saxon
has got to police the world"
ing in the Willard room at the New