MORE MONEY FOR NAVY

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22355, 19 March 1938, Page 17

MORE MONEY FOR NAVY

BRITISH EXPENDITURE

INCREASE OF £18,600,000 OYER LAST YEAR

(BRITISH OFTICUL WIRELESS.) (Received March 18, 2.10 p.m.) RUGBY, March 17. In the absence of the First Lord of the Admiralty (Mr A. Duff Cooper), who is ill with influenza, the Parliamentary Secretary (Mr G. H. Shakespeare) presented in the House of' Commons the Navy Estimates, totalling £126,707,000, an increase of some £ 18,600,000 over last year.

Of the total, £30,000,00(f is to be raised under the Defence Loans Act.

The expenditure on new construction—apart from vessels in the 1938 programme, which will be the subject of a supplementary estimate—is £41,500,000, compared with £18,000,000 in 1914.

For the 1938 programme, said Mr Shakespeare, the number of ships had been announced, but the question of qualitative limits was affected by the position of Japan. So far no information had been supplied by Japan in reply to the recent joint inquiry by Britain, the United States, and France, but it was still possible that on reconsideration she might decide to take her place with the great naval Powers of the world and agree to give' satisfactory assurances that she would abide by the treaty limits, even if she was not prepared to accede to the treaty.

The Escalator Clauses

“The representatives of the three Powers mentioned have been conferring whether, in the absence of information, they should invoke the escalator clause of the treaty, which is subject to certain conditions and allows the signatory Powers to exceed the qualitative limits laid down. The question has been referred back to the individual Governments, and we are not, therefore, in a position to make an announcement as to our intentions. But if, for example, it is considered necessary to exceed the displacement of 35,000 tons for capital ships, the House can rest assured that our plans for so doing are well advanced.”

Mr Shakespeare entered into a detailed review of the consequences of the transfer to the Navy of the fleet air arm. He mentioned that there were at present in commission four aircraft carriers and five new ones were being constructed. Moreover, all the capital ships and larger cruisers would be fitted with aircraft. Protection of Trade Routes

Mr Shakespeare spoke of the attitude of the Admiralty to the question of convoy. Where trade was of great importance or density and liable to attack by - surface vessels, submarines, or aircraft, the Admiralty view was that a suitable escorted convoy would provide the best means of defence. Where trade was sparse, scattered, or unlikely to be attacked by enemy forces, its safety would be sought by the diversion or evasive routing with such patrols as the circumstances warranted. There, had been., sitting for some time a very strong committee representative of shipping interests, the Board of Trade, and the Admiralty, and he paid a tribute to the manner in which the leaders of the shipping industry had co-operated in this' vital matter. The Admiralty, for its part, was busily engaged in building up reserves of armament stores and material necessary to ensure the protection of the merchant navy.

NO DECLARATION OF HELP FOR CZECHS

REPORTED BRITISH DECISION (Received March 18, 8 p.m.) LONDON, March 18. “I am able to state that the British Government has decided against a declaration promising support for Czechoslovakia,” says the diplomatic correspondent of the “Daily Mail.” “Reactions from the Dominion Governments show a reluctance to support a policy of meddling in central Europe. Mr Chamberlain is prepared to continue a policy ol watchluluesa without committing the country to any fresh obligation.”

ATTITUDE OF CANADA

PRIME MINISTER NON-COMMITTAL

(Received March 18, 8 p.m.)

OTTAWA, March 17,

Declaring that unless Canada desires to become involved in developments in Europe and Asia it was inadvisable to make representations which might appear to have a contrary aim, the Prime Minister (Mr W. R. Mackenzie King) refused in the House of Commons to-day to be drawn into a discussion about warlike activities in Europe and to assure London of Canadian support. Questions asked from many quarters demanded a statement on Government policy, and urged either the removal of the embargo against the shipment of arms to Spain or the extension of the embargo, to Italy and Germany. The Prime Minister stated that tremendous events were occurring. Nothing should be done which might risk embarrassing the British Government, or which was likely to be misconstrued by some country involved. It was true that the Government had advices from London. Their nature confirmed the wisdom of saying nothing. A statement might create wrong inferences. The Prime Minister added that the communications from London were continuing only as information, and not as consultations.