Work to Await Naval Conference Decisions London, Nov. 13.
In the House of Commons to-day in reply to a question, the First Lord of the Admirality, Mr. A. Vs 'Alexander, pointed out that "the 'Labour Administration in' 1924 had decided to abandon the Base Singapore, but that since then the Jute Government's action had altered the situation very materially. floating dock had been provided ut heavy expense and in 1928 a contract was signed for the building of a large graving dock which would cost approximately £4,000,000. Moreover, the bulk of the expend: ture had so far been met by con tributions from Hongkong, the States and New Zealano, at the end of the present financial year totalled £113,000," together with the free gift of a site by the Straits Settlements.
Mr. Alexander said that the question of the use of this Base might be affected at the forthcoming Naval Conference, Therefore, the Government had decided, pending the Five-Power Conference, that the work already contracted for in Singapore should be slowed down as much as possible. All work that could be suspended should be suspended and no new work should ho started pending the result of tha Conference,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.