In the House of Commons on Tuesday there was a
full debate on the question of Singapore. As we have written at length on this subject in a leading article, we shall say little of the debate. Sir Robert Horne made out as good a case for large dock building at Singapore as could possibly be made, but we remain unconvinced, particu- larly as Mr. Ammon, in speaking for the Government, declared that the present dock at Singapore will take a cruiser of 10,000 tons. Till the value of the capital ship is more correctly estimated it is upon light cruisers that we ought mainly to depend at Singapore. Commander Burney, who is always daring in ideas, made the startling suggestion that the Admiralty should scrap Chatham in favour of Singapore. Mr. J. H. Thomas summed up the debate extremely well from the Government point of view. He pointed out that there was not unanimity about Singapore, even in Australia and New Zealand. The Government wanted to show their sincerity about dis- armament, and now was a safe time to make the attempt. It would be time enough to act upon the consequences if they failed. In the division the Government had a majority of 76.
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