AIR FORCE EXPANSION

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 20, 24 July 1934, Page 9

AIR FORCE EXPANSION

JUSTIFIED BY MINISTERS

NO AGGRESSION INTENDED

(Brills!) OffldaJ Wireless.) * (Hceeived July 24, 11 a.m.) RUGBY, July 23. The Government's proposals to increase the Eoyal Air Force by 41 squadrons in the next live years will be debated in both Houses before Parliament adjourns for the summer recess at the end of the mouth.* In the House of Commons a vote of censure will be moved by the Labour Party. In the House of Lords a motion similar' in terms will also be moved on their behalf by Lord Ponsonby. Referring to the subject during the weekend, Mr. Baldwin said that the increase, of an offensive Air Force did not mean that the Government was panicky or was going to' suggest that war was any nearer or- that its desire for peace was less urgent. He was con- ' vineed that the action it proposed would make it less difficult and .not' more difficult to'proceed with its efforts to secure a measure of international! armament limitation, Lord Hailsham emphasised that Britain had set the example in disarmament, and sho had reduced her position to the very verge of risk. As other people had not thereby been persuaded to reduce their arms, the Government was determined that Britain should not remain altogether defenceless. . A moderate increase in tho Air Force was not a great advance compared with what' other nations had done, but was, in his judgment, 'the very least they could do in view of the international situation as they saw it today. No other country would dream of suggesting that Britain had any aggressive'designs. ,