WESTERN UNION PLANS DEFENCES & MOVES IN “SUDDEN EMERGENCY”

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 22886, 4 March 1949, Page 5

WESTERN UNION PLANS DEFENCES & MOVES IN “SUDDEN EMERGENCY”

*■ (N.Z.P.A. —Reuter—Copyright.) (11 a.m.) . LONDON, March 3. The Minister of Defence, Mr. A. V. Alexander, told the House of Commons that the Western Union organisation under Field Marshal Lord Montgomery was studying the tactical problems of defence of Western Europe, and “preparing plans for action in any sudden emergency.”

“There is no doubt the significance is fully recognised by our friends throughout the world.”

Mr. Alexander was opening the debate on the Government’s statement on defence which accompanied the defence budget last month. Increased Expenditure

This budget provides for an expenditure of £759,860,000 for the year 194950, an increase of £107,500,000 on the current year. The total strength of Britain’s armed forces, which will be 793,000 on April 1 this year, will be reduced to 750,000 by April. 1950. The Government’s statement explained that the increased expenditure, despite the decrease in numbers, was due to the increased rates of pay, increased cost of equipment, administration of the occupied territories and the necessity for sending abroad extra forces to reinforce the local security measures.

Mr. Alexander continued: “The Western Union Military Supply Board is already arranging for the equipment of the new defence forces of the Western Union.”

Supplies of Aircraft Meteors and Vampires were already being supplied to France, Belgium and Holland. Arrangements were well advanced for the manufacture of these aircraft under license in those countries. Further supplies would be made available during 1949. Mr. Alexander said he could not say much about the Atlantic Pact, but it was significant that the nations participating in discussing the pact held between them a large proportion of the world’s industrial resources and consisted of more than 250,000,000 people. Mr. Alexander gave an assurance that Britain had adequate quantities of the most important items of equipment which would have taken a long time to make. Nevertheless, it would be false policy to produce weapons and vehicles which might be superseded in the near future by markedly superior types.