AIR FORCE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22117, 24 May 1935, Page 11

AIR FORCE

BRITAIN'S PLANS increase in strength 71 NEW SQUADRONS POLICY OF DEFENCE QUE. BALDWIN'S SPEECH By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received May 23. 6.5 p.m.) British Wireless RUGBY, May 22 It was announced in both Houses of Parliament to-day that by March, 1937, the home strength of the Royal Air Force would be increased to 1500 first-line machines, compared with 580 at present, requiring 2500 additional pilots and 20,000 other ranks. This meant the creation of 71 new squadrons. In his' speech in opening the debate on defence policy in the House of Commons, Mr. Baldwin said that the plans for strengthening the defences had been already explained. These plans showed that on the technical side the system of co-ordination in the Committee of Imperial Defence was satisfactory. Regarding the question of the appointment of a 'Minister' to be solely responsible for the co-ordination of the defence policy, Mr. Baldwin said he had no decision to announce. It was one of the many matters now under consideration. and the Government would listen with great interest to suggestions made on the subject during the debate.

"Regarding the measure of re-equip-ment (so long delayed in the hope of some general limitation) upon which the Government had now decided, he said it was an act of national defence which no responsible Government could leave undone No Benefit Attaching to War "But it is even more than a question of national defence," continued Mr. Baldwin. "It is a question of Britain's ability to fulfil her obligations under the League Covenant. "It is a platitude to say that our abiding interest is peace. You only have to look at the map of the world, and there is no single corner of it in which we -would benefit by an upheaval. "The world is not static, and changes are bound to occur in the process of time, but who, in the light of the experience of 20 years ago, would dare to let loose machines of destruction by land or sea and in the air for selfish reasons of their own. The Kellogg Pact forbids it, the whole spirit of the League of Nations forbids it, and it is inconceivable that the democratic Government of this country would ever use its strength, even if it had ten times the strength it has to-day. in war or aggression. "Therefore I say that when this House supports the Government at this present time, it is reinforcing not only national security but collective security, because we all know that our armaments would only be used in the restraint of an aggressor. British Strength a Comfort to Others "It is my earnest hope that our armaments will never have to be used, but if collective security were in danger it would be some comfort to an innocent party to know that they had our goodwill. I believe that all peace-loving peoples in these last anxious davs have been disheartened by the extent to which we, the friends of all peaceful people, have allowed ourselves to fall short of our ability to fulfil our obligations.

"I believe: the knowledge that we can fulfil our obligations will be a welcome encouragement to those who desire to live in peace, and a deterrent to anv who might be tempted to disregard their solemn undertakings, whether under the Covenant or under the Kellogg Pact."

Contrasting th<-. position of a democratic country, such as Britain, with that of an authoritarian State, of which there were three in Europe, Mr. Baldwin said: "If an authoritarian State wishes swiftly and in large measure to increase its national defence, it can do it in absolute secrecy. One of the greatest causes of apprehension and fear is the ignorance of the world as to what is going on behind some screens. "Ignorance begets rumour, but the veil has been partially lifted in Germany. I hope and believe it may be fully lifted soon and that we may be perfectly frank with each other as to all we have in the way of armaments. Until that is done there can be no real 'confidence." Expansion Programme in Hand Mr. Baldwin added that in the Berlin interview, Herr Hitler had told Sir John Simon that he had achieved air parity with Britain, but subsequent examination bad revealed that he had at that time from 800 to 850 first-line aircraft. Herr Hitler made it clear that his goal was parity with France, and for parity of the three nations they had taken figures round about 1500 first-line aircraft. Everything now requisite for this expansion in Britain was under consideration and would be put in hand immediately. The Government realised that a great deal of work lay ahead and was determined that there would be no profiteering in what might be called a time of emergency. It was already in consultation as to how the industries for this purpose should be organised with Lord Weir, formferly president of the Air Council, than whom no one had more knowledge of times of national emergency. Horror ol Air Raid Menace "Lord Weir has been occupying himself in studying air raid precautions. 1 tell the House that 1 have been made almost physically sick to think that I and my friends, and every statesmen of every country in Europe 2000 years after our Lord was crucified, should be spending our times seeing how we can take the mangled bodies of children to hospital and prevent poison gas going down the throats of the people. It is time Europe recognised that. "I believe with all my heart that if Labour Ministers had been on these benches governing the country, responsible for the safety of the people, knowiiig what we know and facing the facts with which we are faced, they could E °t have come to a different conclusion than 1 have submitted to the House to-day."