DEFENCE OF BRITAIN

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21698, 13 January 1934, Page 8

DEFENCE OF BRITAIN

STRENGTH IN THE AIR

NEED FOR SECURITY REMARKS IN PARLIAMENT "J [from oub own correspondent] LONDON, Nov. 30 The need of security for Great Britain, while the Disarmament Conference is sitting and in the transitional period which must elapse if that conference be brought to a successful conclusion, has been emphasised by Captain H. H. Balfour in a speech in the House of Commons. Captain Balfour asked the Servic9 Ministers to say whether or not they were satisfied that their respective services were adequate to meet Britain's home and Imperial defence commitments, should emergency arise. He said that, if they were not satisfied, it was their duty to say so openly and fearlessly, even if it entailed leaving the Government. He spoke especially of the present misgiving on. the sub- • ject of British air power. He recalled that in 1923 Mr. Baldwin—then Prime Minister —outlined Britain's key defence requirements as laid down by the Salisbury Committee, .the most powerful committee ever set up in this country to consider defence, and § announced that Britain must have a home defence force of 52 squadrons. It was added by Captain Balfour that Mr. Baldwin "at that time considered 52 home defence squadrons essential for the security of this country, and admitted that the situation should be reviewed in the light of future developments. What have the developments been since 1923 ? Does he consider that the situation has improved? Would he say that the situation in Europe to-day is more peaceful than it was in 1923? Would he sajfy that this country is more secure in relation to France and Italy as regards air defence than it was in 1923? Would he say that there is any less likelihood of war breaking out in Europe to-day than there was in 1923? He knows, as we all know, that since 1923 every other country in Europe has increased its air force while we have reduced ours, and that the political situation in Europe to-day is far less stable than it was in 1923, when he laid down these minimum requirements for this country."

Captain Balfour pleaded for parity —for a one-power standard in the air. "We cannot afford," he said, "to be 100 per cent idealistic and nought per cent practical." The sting behind his comments rests in the fact that the 52 "essential squadrons'" hare never been formed. The present strength-<jf the Home Defence Force is 42 squadrons, and only 29 of them are fullstrength regular units.- The rest are territorial or "skeleton" squadrons.