COST OF SECURITY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23707, 14 January 1939, Page 13

COST OF SECURITY

AMERICA’S DEFENCES

BIG EXPENDITURE PLANNED

PRESIDENT’S PROGRAMME

EXPANSION IN THE AIR

(United Press Association) i (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright)

NEW YORK, Jan. 12,

President Roosevelt, citing threats of war and aggression throughout the world, called on Congress to authorise . a 525,000,000 dollars emergency defence programme, of which 210,000,000 dollars was to be expended by 1940. He urged appropriation as speedily as possible, in order that the expansions, particularly of the army, navy, and aviation forces, might start at the earliest opportunity.

Mr Roosevelt did not recommend the exact number of planes to be built. He explained that the army intended to establish a lump sum of 300.000. dollars for construction in an effort to reduce unit costs and place manufacture on a mass production basis. In addition to the 525.000. dollars he recommended a special appropriation of 27,000,000 dollars to improve the defences at the Panama canal by enlarging the garrison and increasing the armaments. Mr Roosevelt said: " Devoid of all hysteria, this programme is only the minimum of our requirements.” He denied any intention of leading the United States into a European war, but emphasised that the experience of 1917 showed that the nation was not ready to conduct large-scale land and air operations.

“ Relatively we are not much more ready to-day, and we cannot guarantee a long period free from attack for which we could prepare.” he declared. “ Information from other nations indicates that we must complete the revision of the aircraft estimates.” He expressed the opinion that military aviation was increasing at an unprecedented and alarming rate, and suggested that 50,000.000 dollars should be made available immediately for aviation in order, to correct 'the present lag in aircraft production due to the idle plants.

Stressing the minimum nature of the programme, he said: “No responsible officer advocates the building up of air forces equal to certain other nations either in total planes on hand or in productive capacity.” He pointed out, however: “ Our young men should not be compelled to take the field with antiquated weapons." EDUCATING THE PUBLIC ANOTHER STEP IN CAMPAIGN NEW YORK, Jan. 12. (Received Jan, 13, at 10.30 p.m.) “President Roosevelt’s armament message was received by members of the Congress-as another step in his campaign to educate the American public to greater participation by the United States in world politics and was approved or deplored as individual congressmen react to that course,” says the Washington correspondent of the New York Times. The temperate language used in the message and the demands reassured those who are inclined to pacifism since they had been led to believe that something much larger would be asked. While there will be very little opposition from them some are bound to ask the administration to point to the military menace it has in mind. The fundamental aim of the President seems to be to give the United States sufficient armament to throw an element of doubt in the dictators’ mind.”