MORE NAVAL TONNAGE

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22308, 24 January 1938, Page 11

MORE NAVAL TONNAGE

American Defence Plans EXTENSIVE CHANGES IN POLICY EXPECTED (fNMTF.D TRESS ASSOCIATION—COTYRIGHT.) (Received January 23, 9 p.m.) NEW YORK, January 23. The Washington correspondent of the "New York Times" says that President Roosevelt's national defence message to Congress, which is expected on Monday or Tuesday, is likely to precipitate the most farreaching changes in the national defence structure since the naval treaty of 1922. The developments expected to follow the message include: (1) The introduction in the House of Representatives of a bill authorising a general 20 per cent, increase in naval tonnage over the present limits, construction of 42 auxiliary vessels, the expansion of the air force to 2500 aeroplanes, the total cost of which during the years of operation of the plan will probably exceed 1,000,000,000 dollars. (2) Attempts by "army minded" Congressmen to increase the army appropriation for 1939 by 25,000,000 dollars for additional anti-aircraft equipment, ammuniti&n, tanks, artillery, etc. (3) A thorough debate on foreign policy and the defence proposals in relation to it, which might virtually affect the course of the United States concerning the Far East.

President Roosevelt is also expected to recommend the authorisation of the construction of two more dreadnoughts.

OPPOSITION EXPECTED

WASHINGTON, January 21. Opponents of the 553,000,000 dollars Naval Bill scheduled to be passed to-day have planned the most forcible opposition when President Roosevelt later asks for additional warships. There is already opposition to the provision for new battleships in to-day's bill, and it is planned to induce the House to ask President Roosevelt to call a world naval disarmament conference, but there is very little chance of success.

CO OPERATION WITH U.S. URGED

COASTAL DEFENCE OF CANADA (Received January 23, 9 p.m.) EDMONTON, January 23. "Canada's defence policy should be settled in Washington instead of London," said Mr W. H. Alexander, Dean of the Faculty of Arts at Alberta University, at the meeting of the Commonwealth Federation. "Canadians should ask themselves if their coast defences are being framed in conformity with the plans of the United States or on the advice of some artillery expert in London, who would not think of visiting 'the dear old colony' to acquaint himself with realities."