The Significance of Singapore
Mr. Churchill, in his talk with the Japanese Ambassador, is said to have observed that Singapore is as far from Japan as Gibraltar is from New York—that is, far enough away in all conscience to offer no threat to Japan, though it may prove a very effective barrier if that country should attempt to interfere with the Dutch East Indies or contemplate action against Australia. The comparison with Gibraltar is an apt one ; for of the three key points of British Imperial communications Gibraltar is one, Suez is another, and Singapore is the third. It guards the main route from Europe, Egypt and India to the Pacific islands known as Oceania and to Australia and New Zealand. Its defence is vital to the security of India on the one side and Australia on the other. There is a peculiar fitness therefore in the reinforcement of the British troops in Singapore and the Malay mainland north of it by powerful units from Australia and India. The arrival of the Australian troops and R.A.F. reinforcements in Malaya has had a reassuring effect not only in Singapore but throughout the Netherland Indies which, needless to say, have been putting their own defences in order. For Britain and allies of Britain in the Far East it is an inspiring reflection that, in spite of all pre-occupations at home, in Africa and in Greece, power- fully equipped forces can still be spared to counter any threat of invasion and to call the Japanese bluff. Everyone knows— the people of Thailand not least—that Britain's action is in no sense aggressive. It carries no threat to Japan, but it is a sign of preparedness if the Japanese should attempt any aggression in co-operation with their Axis partners.
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