GERMAN ARMS

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 57, 30 November 1934, Page 11

GERMAN ARMS

Important Speech By Mr. Baldwin SHROUD OF SECRECY Belief That Germany is Creating Air Force “GROUND FOR ANXIETY” Debate on Adequacy of British Defences (British Official Wireless.) I Received November 21), 5.0 p.m.) Rugby, November 28. The debate on armaments, in which an important speech was made by .Mr. Baldwin, took place in the House of Commons to-day. It arose on an amendment to the Address to the Throne moved by Mr. Winston Churchill, stating that in the present circumstances of the world the strength of Britain's defences, especially in the air, were inadequate.

Mr. Churchill, in moving the amendment, said that to urge preparation for defence was not to assert the imminence of war. Germany was rearming and. what concerned Britain most, Germany was rearming in the air. Britain, contended Mr. Churchill, ought at all costs to maintain in the next 19 years a substantially stronger Air Force than Germany. There was, lie added, no reason to assume that Germany would attack Britain, but it was not pleasant to feel that her Government might soon have power to do so. German arming must, be cleared up. He contended the Government’s measures for strengthening the Air Force were inadequate, and added \ that Britain would lie unable to intervene usefully in sustaining the peace of Europe, if she herself were the most vulnerable of all. Nervousness in Europe.

Mr. Baldwin, who stated that the subject bad engaged the attention of the Government for some time past, said that he had not yet given up hope of some kind of armament limitation or restriction. He desired to. say nothing which would make more difficult the approaches which must follow from their discussions, but one of the foundations of suspicion and malaise in Europe to-day was not only fear, but ignorance outside Germany and secrecy inside. . , He sketched the political developments in Europe of the past year or two following the change of regime in Germany and particularly referred t« the withdrawal of Germany from tlie League and Disarmament Conference, which occurred at the moment when there were fair hopes of accomplishing something more substantial than had been the case for many years. Work at Geneva among the European nations was thus broken in relation to the nation whose presence was of first importance. Mr. Baldwin referred to the signs of nervousness which followed in different parts of Europe, and which would not have occurred had not Germany left the League and had not her internal actions in regard to armaments been shrouded from that date in mystery. He expressed the hope that when this question was considered in Germany they would ask themselves whether tlie price Germany was paying in this mental condition of Europe was worth the secrecy that was being maintained and breaking the link at Geneva. Referring to particular points raised bv Mr Churchill in regard to the extent of German rearmament, Mr. Baldwin said that the secrecy enshrouding what was going on in Germany had made it difficult for him to give particulars. Rumours had been prevalent about the formation of an army The British Government believed that they were founded on fact and that Germany was increasing and extending her long-service army of 100,000 men into a short-service of prewar time army of 300,000. That was tbe claim made for her at the time she left the Disarmament Conference. To what extent it had been completed jie could not say for certain. « Creating an Air Force. "I think it is correct to say that the Germans are engaged in creating an air force,” continued Mr. Baldwin. “I think most of the accounts given in tins country and in the Press are very much exaggerated. I cannot give the actual number of service type of aircraft. but I can give two estimates between which the correct figures can probably be found. The figures we have range from a figure given on excellent authority and from a source of indisputable authority of GOO military aircraft altogether, and tlie highest figure that we have been given, also from a very good source, is not over 1000. The probability is that tlie figure ranges between these two. but nearer which I cannot say. So far as we know, no service units have yet been formed, although they have some bombers, but there is great haste being shown in the preparation of aerodromes, and great secrecy in their construction and as to where (hey are.”

Britain’s first line of strength at heme ami overseas was 880 aircraft, and there was a far larger number lie,.’ for replacement, experiment, etc. Britain would not be caught unprepared in tlie event of any emergency. Tu.e Govcriiuient bad announced its 1935-36 air force programme, which would increase tlie first line by some 3ti() aircraft over tlie present figure. Arrangements were beip" made for an i..crease in the reserve of air officers. Tlie Government was determined not !u accept any position of inferiority in regard to any force Germany might raise in the future. Ground for Grave Anxiety. Continuing, Mr. Baldwin said that there was no ground at this moment for alarm, and still less for panic. No immediate menace cmil'ronts Britain or anyone in Europe. There was no actual emergency hut they must look ahead, for there was ground for very grave anxiety. The Government had been watching tlie situation for some months and would continue to watch.

Mr. Morgan Jones, a Press Assn, cable states, following Mr. Baldwin. moved a Labour amendment to Mr. Cliurcliiil’s amendment regretting that tlie Government had embark ed on a counter-policy of increased armaments calculated to lead to a renewal of international rivalry, binder ing the reaching of a durable peace Di rough tlie League Mr Lloyd George -aid Hmt the de bate bad cleared the air' It sbouol be recognised abroad that though there miiv be differences about methods, there was no class in Britain not prepared

to defend the liberties and honour o“ the country and Empire. He hoped that the Government, before deciding on a defensive system as a whom, would consult the Empire, and then it would be entitled to ask that upon an agreed policy the Dominions should come in. This was not done before the Great War.

Mr. Lloyd George added that the French Cabinet last week had hailed the Russian Army Air Force as a guarantee of security of peace and property. He predicted that within a year or two conservative elements in Britain would be looking to Germany as a bulwark against Communism in Europe. Position in Pacific.

Mr. Lloyd George said that, regarding Britain’s own air strength, the things that mattered were pilots, engines and mechanics. They could have all these things if they developed the air services of the Empire,.but white attack from the air was the most important menace in Europe, in the Pacific it was a naval matter, Japan demanding equality with Britain and the United States. If the Naval Conference failed, nothing would save them from the old competition in big-ship construction.

Security rested more in disarmament than rearmament. Mr. Baldwin had appealed to Germany. Could lie not extend the appeal to other countries r It was difficult to put up with the German case to-day as the German Government in the last IS months had offended and exasperated every class, f the Jew, Gentile, Protestant, Catholic, Communist, Socialist, Trade Unionist, and Constitutionalist, “yet we must make clear to the German people our desire impartially to consider her grievances and recognise that she had waited vainly for 14 years for tne Powers to obey the Treaty promises to disarm, and found every one except Britain, piling up armaments. New Effort to Establish Peace. Sir John Simon, Foreign Secretary, replying to the debate, said that full information of Mr. Baldwin’s statement was given before the debate to_ Germany France, Italy, and the United States. This was done because it was not an Anglo-German but a world problem. These communications constituted a new development and might create a new situation. They had declared afresh to the world that they wanted regulated limitation, not competitive unregulated armaments. It was a new effort, firmly to establish peace. Labour’s amendment was defeated by 276 votes to 35. Mr. Churchill’s amendment was withdrawn. BACK TO THE LEAGUE Reported German Proposal London, November 28. Herr von Ribbentrop, the special envoy of Herr Hitler, is at present en route to Berlin. He will shortly visit M. Laval. French Foreign Minister, says the “Daily Mail’s” Paris eorres pondent. with an unofficial proposal that Germany should join the League in exchange for armaments equality. It is also expected that he will offer to nego tiate directly with France regarding the Saar.