MILITARY BUDGET

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 93, 14 January 1936, Page 9

MILITARY BUDGET

Soviet Expenditure To Be Doubled AGGRESSION FEARED By Telegraph.—Press Assn. —Copyright. (Received January 13, 8.25 p.m.) Moscow, January 13. The Soviet Central Executive has urged increasing the military budget to £560,000,000, double last year’s approportion. This is certain to bo adopted as it follows JI. Molotov’s speech in favour of safeguarding Russia against Japanese and German aggression. M. Molotov, President of the Council of People's Commissars, declared, amid applause, at a meeting of the Soviet Central Executive, that Japan and Germany were threatening Russia, consequently an increased military Budget was necessary. He added that the Soviet’s own forces would defend its frontier. He pointed out that Anglo-Russian relations had markedly improved, and hoped this would continue. On the contrary, Herr Hitler had never withdrawn his earlier anti-Russian threats, consequently ail his aggressive statements must still be regarded as valid, despite the recent Russo-German trade agreement. Moreover, Germany was continuing an anti-Soviet policy in Poland, Finland and Baltic States, while a Japan-ese-German military agreement was rumoured. Meanwhile, Japan was strengthening her Kwantung army and exerting stronger pressure in North China.