AIR ARMAMENTS

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 131, 30 November 1933, Page 13

AIR ARMAMENTS

BRITISH INFERIORITY

NOT TO CONTINUE

APPROPRIATE STEPS TAKEN

STATEMENT BY MINISTER

(British Official Wireless.)

(Received November 30, 11 a.m.)]

RUGBY, November 29. '

The British Government's deter* mination to continue to pursue a policy aimed at achieving effective disarmament in the air was repeated in the House of Lords this evening by the Marquess of Londonderry, Air Minister. He declared emphatically; that they could not permit a continuance of Britain's present in« feriority. ' /

The statement was made in a debate raised by the Duke of Sutherland, who asked for information regarding Britain's relative strength in comparison with European Powers. Lord London* derry said that the policy the Govern" menfi had consistently followed in,, con* nection with air disarmament; was sufficient indicatio-n that they regarded the problem as of vital moment. A!

racp between nations in armaments was a policy that must be-, avoided at all costs, and to this end all the .effort* of the Government had been directed afe Geneva. •-.«■■•■ : It might;lie that the Disarmamenfi '. Conference approached its task with1 an idealism which in present circunw stances of the world -was unattain* able. That was no reason for censure^ and it would be a disaster of the fog* • magnitude, if an agreement -was nod reached on a definite limitation osi armaments at a level which satisfied tlt^ requirements of defence and ioriedj to a potential aggressor Jhe means «4 offence. FIRST POWER TO TITTH. r ' , When the war closed Britain'was' th* first ah- Power in the world. Afte'q tho armistice, as earnest of her pacific intentions and proof of the genuine character. 8f her propaganda for a limitation iof air armaments, she' dispersed the greater part of 'her vast air fleets until the country was today; fifth only of the world's air Powers ii» terms of first-line strength. All. countries had not made publia statements of their current strengths, but official figures were available foe Trance and Britain. In Britain's case tho figure was approximately 850 aeroplanes. In the Trench Air Force thaf corresponding figure |-was about 1650. According to available information tha Soviet Eepublie figure was between; 1400 and 1500, the' United States between 1000 and 1100, Italy between 1000 and 1100. . It was clear that Britain's example had unhappily elicited no response what* ever in any quarter of the world. Thiai was therefor*, a path 'which' could no longer be followed, and they, must,however reluctantly, abandon the policy; of unilateral disarmament which, in tho present unfortunate state of international affairs,'it was ma^festly not only useless, but even dangerous', to pursue further. That didjiot mean that a new policy would guide'them, for, the Government had made it plain iii their successivo pronouncements at. Genevat that they reedgnised the need.for one*.' power standard in air for this country, SINCERITY PROVED. Tho earnestness of their desire tof achieve effective disarmament, in the air had been abundantly proved by their approach to this problem, and they had offered to go to any length, if' other nations would do the same. They hadj indeed, stated their willingness to consent to a complete abolition of military; ' and naval aviation, provided only that' ( there could .be devised an effective; !sehemo for international control of civil ' aviation which ■would prevent all possw bility of a misuse of civil aircraft fofj military purposes. ' ■ It now appeared that there wer« nations 'which were not prepared ta agroo to such an abolition, and it was impossible; to deny that there were great practical difficulties in the way of suehi a far:rcaching measure. But Britain could not accept a continuance of her, present inferiority. If parity could not' be secured by reductions elsewhere, theft the converse of the proposition musfc follow and there -would be bo option but to begin to build upwards, while continuing efforts to secure an inter* national agreement in. fixing paritjr at; tho lowest level to which other nation* would subscribe. Having referred to the programmes! for increased air forces, in the United States, Japan, and Kussia, Lord London* deny said that they must hope it would! be possible to fix a first-line strength! for the principal air powers whicK would neither bo a threat to the peaca of the world nor impose an intolerable financial burden. Britain and the Em* pire as a wh^lo must be made safe iti ■ tho air, but a race in aiv armament^ should be avoided at all costs. Appro* priate steps to ensure this policy ■wwr* at present engaging the attention of the Government. ■ ' t ... .. ■