GERMAN ESTIMATES

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 10 April 1934, Page 5

GERMAN ESTIMATES

NAVAL AND MILITARY INCREASES THIS YEAR QUESTIONS IN THE COMMONS (Britioh Official Wireless) RUGBY, 9th April. When the House of Commons reassembled after the Easter recess this afternoon the first business was a series of questions addressed to the Foreign Secretary and the Prime Minister relating to the armaments situation.

Replying to a questions regarding the increase in the German naval and military estimates Sir John Simon said the German estimates for 1934 revealed the following increases compared with those pf 1933: Navy estimates 233,000,000 reichsmarks, an increase of 50,000,000. Armv, 047,000,000. an increase of 175,000,000. .Air Ministry, 210,000,00 increase.

“His Majesty’s Government is giving very serious consideration to this matter," and I have instructed the British Ambassador in Berlin to make enquiries of tho German Government on tho subject,” said Sir John. He added that be expected to receive a communication during the present week. Replying to a further question regarding tlie speech recently made by General Goering at Potsdam, Sir John said lie did not think that hail any bearing on the actual question on tlie paper. The Foreign Secretary was then asked what action, in view of these projected German, increases in armament expenditure, the British Government intended to take to avoid a breakdown of tlie Disarmament Conference. He replied that Mr Eden was attending a meeting of the Conference Bureau at Geneva to-morrow, and any statement on the subject must necessarily await the outcome of this meeting. The Prime Minister was asked whether the increases in German estimates would cause the British Government to augment immediately the Royal Air Force to a one-power standard. He replied that while tlie matter was receiving the careful consideration of tho Government lie could add nothing at the present moment to the statement on air policy made by Mr Baldwin on Bth March.