BRITISH AIR FORCE

New Zealand Times, Volume LI, Issue 11772, 7 March 1924, Page 7

BRITISH AIR FORCE

EXPANSION TO CONTINUE BUT GOVERNMENT’S POLICY IS TO PREPARE FOR PEACE, BEADY TO DISARM. By Telegraph.—Press Assn. —Copyright. Renter’s Teleeram. LONDON, March 5. The House of Lords discussed a motion by the Marquis of Londonderry, stressing the necessity for maintaining, for home defence, an Air Force sufficiently strong adequately to protect the country against air attacks by the strongest air force within striking distance. PIOUS SENTIMENTS. ■Supporters of the motion, including the Duke of Sutherland and Lord Salisbury, expressed misgivings owing to the pious sentiments contained in the speeches of Mr W. Leach, Undersecretary for Air, both inside and outside the House of Commons, on the. subject. They specifically disclaimed hostility to France, but stressed the vital importance of air defence, Lord Londonderry declaring that London today could be annihilated from the air in the shortest space of time. lord Thomson and Lord Haldane, on behalf of the Government, deprecated the motion as likely Unfavourably to affect the Government in ite present efforts in international affairs. NOT CAUGHT NAPPING. (IJotcs Thomson, however, faeenrefh. the House that the Government was continuing the late Government’s home defence expansion scheme, while he trusted that measures would he taken to speed up research and civil aviation. The policy of the country, until a general disarmament was possible, should be to make such preparations as would show the world that Britain did not mean to be caught napping, hut the Government’s policy was to prepare for peace, and it was ready "'do take advantage of any disarmament conference’s decision. The motion was adopted without di* " Vision.