AERIAL DEFENCE

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXX, Issue 12200, 12 March 1934, Page 5

AERIAL DEFENCE

JXTERXATIOX4L AGREEMENT URGED. BRITISH PARITY POLICY MEANTIME. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, March 9. The immense importance •of a convention covering air armaments was emphasised by speakers of Ml parties during the House of Common a debate on the air estimates. Several members considered that an increase of only £135,000 in the British estimates* was inadequate. There was. however, a general recognition that the Government had framed the estimates with a view to avoiding the possibility of starting an air armaments race, and in order to give every chance to the proposals for a convention on the lines oi' the British disarmament memorandum. Such a convention wa s declared to be the only alternative to air expansion ■

Ur. Stanley Baldwin said he din not admit for one moment that Captain Eden’s tour had been a failure, although it had yet not borne its fruit:*. The air problem was largely psychological. Other Powers had the same feeling of apprehension as some members had expressed aboutthe safety of London. The British policy of parity was an answer to tile real fear of a sudden knock-out blow', because no equal would dare to try a suicideu blow at equals. He did not believe that the world was yet- ready for an international air force, and, therefore, a convention limiting national forces should be the object of practical men.