§ 35. Lieut.-Commander Fletcherasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty by what date it is intended to station at Singapore a fleet adequate to obviate the necessity for Australia to acquire capital ships?
§ Mr. ShakespeareThe hon. and gallant Member will appreciate that it is not in the public interest to disclose possible future dispositions of His Majesty's ships. With regard to the latter part of the question, the strength and composition of the Royal Australian Navy is a matter for decision by the Commonwealth Government, and their present intentions in this respect were announced by the Minister of Defence in the House of Representatives on 6th December, as reported in the Press of 7th December. I need hardly add that His Majesty's Government in this country welcome any steps taken to increase the strength of the Royal Australian Navy and Australian participation in the common task of Imperial defence.
§ Lieut.-Commander FletcherIs the Naval Staff satisfied that in the event of capital ships becoming necessary for the defence of Australia in the near future, this country will be able to provide these ships?
§ Mr. ShakespeareThe Minister of Defence, in the speech referred to, said that
Australia looked to the United Kingdom in an emergency to station at Singapore a fleet strong enough to safeguard the Empire's interests in the eastern hemisphere.That is an accurate statement of the position.