The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1924-10-22
WAR FEAR
HAS PAR T
IN ELECTION
Possible Conflict in Pacific
May Influence British
Voters.
BY WILLIAM PHILIP SIMMS,
Times Foreign Editor.

Times Foreign Editor.
ASHINGTON. Oct. 22.-Unex
WI pressed though it is and
D must remain, the haunting
fear of war in the Pacific and the
possible loss of Australia, New Zea-
land or India, is one of the secret
causes underlying the British cleo
lions scheduled for Oct. 20.
Premier MacDonalds failure to
prosecute an obscure editor Of an
obscure weekly for alleged seditious
writings, and his so-called Anglo
Soviet treaty are far from being the
sole reasons for his overthrow. 1t
required considerable more than
either, or both, OF these to defeat
what, in many ways, has been the
most constructive and the most sue
cessful government Britain has had
since the World War.
The spectre of a mighty Japan
in complete domination of Far East
ern waters. a constant menace to
British dominlOns in that quarter
Of tho globe. therefore, is more po-
tent than any of tho reasons thus
far made public.
Fails Tradition
MacDonaId's greatest sin I'm the
eyes of many Liberals and Conserva-
tives was his failure to make Singa-
pore, in the Strait of Malacca, anoth-
er Gibraltar In their sight he has
failed to follow the centuries-old pol
icy which has held the empire to-
gether and put Britain IN possession
Of the keys to all the gateways of
the seven seas.
When. at the Washington con-
ference, the United States surrend-
cred its right TO fortify Guam and
make Manila impreguable, England.
whose alliance with Japan was
severed at that same conference. be
came alarmed. Japan began to loom
at once a ga menace to Australia,
New Zealand and india. Thus. with
out delay, the House Of Commons,
by a large majority. appropriated
$55, 100000 to make Singapore. Just
outside the zone OF forbidden fortd-
cations, a naval base second to none
in the world.
No sooner WAS Macdonald IN
power, however. then he sldctracked
the Singapore project. Which,
Liberals and Conservatives thought,
did not matter much: He would not
be in office long anyhow
Immigration Figures
But dtsquieUng things began TO
happen. In the first place the Con
Fress Of tho United States passed
the law excluding japanese i'm.
migrants from this country. At
cnce all Japan began 20 seethe with
warta!k. Which threats still con-
time.
In the second place, instead Of
getting out, Macdonald strencthened
his hold on his job. Ho made good.
on the whole. he lid more In a few
months for the peace of Europe and
the world than any other British
premier had done IN years
But there was still a dark cloud
On the horizon. What IL war should
come In tho Pacific? Many Con
servdtivee and Liberals feel sucn q
war would endanger the very life Of
the British Empire
Hector Bywotcr noted British
naval authority. quotes British
admiral as telling HIM that without
an impregnable Guam and All
equally strong Manila. tho American
fleet would have inst one chance in
ninety-nine to defeat the japanese
in a naval battle in the Far East
Would Expose Colonies
An American defeat in those
waters, British experts agree, would
leave India. Australia and New
Zealand exposed. only Il powerful
base Mt Singapore. at the southern
extremity Of the Malay Peninsular,
enabling Great Britain to bring her
entire naval strength TO bear In
Australasisn waters. offers anything
like a guarantee.
II Macdonald fails TO return to
power--and it looks now as though
he would-it Is doubtful II his
Successor will dare change very ma
terially his policy with regard to
Europe. But it IS Il 100 to l shot
that Singapore would go full steam
ahead.