MORE ARMAMENTS

Southland Times, Issue 22296, 11 April 1934, Page 7

MORE ARMAMENTS

GERMANY’S INTENTION INCREASES IN THE ESTIMATES QUESTIONS IN COMMONS (British Official Wireless.) Rugby, April 9. When the House of Commons reassembled after the Eastei- 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 question 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 of 1933: Increase. Reichmarks. Reichmarks Navy estimates 233,000,000 50,000,000 Army estimates 647,000,000 175,000,000 Air Ministry 210,000,000 132,000,000 “His Majesty’s Government is giving very serious consideration to this matver, and I have instructed the British Ambassador at Berlin to make inquiries of the German Government on the subject,” said Sir John Simon. He added that he expected to receive a communication during the present week. Replying to a further question regarding the speech rccentlj' made by General Goering at Potsdam, Sir John said he did not think that it had any bearing on the actual question on the paper. The Foreign Secretary was then asked what action in view of these projected German increases in armament expenditure, did the British Government intend to take to avoid the breakdown of the Disarmament Conference. He replied that Mr R. A. 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, Mr Ramsay MacDonald, was asked whether the increases in the German estimates would cause the British Government to augment immediately the Royal Air Force to a class-one Power standard. He replied that while the matter was receiving the careful consideration of the Government, he could add nothing at the present moment to the statement on air policy made by Mr Stanley Baldwin on March 8. THE AIR ESTIMATES TREATY NOT VIOLATED. 'United Press Assn. —Telegraph Copyright.) (Rec. 7 p.m.) Berlin, April 10. It is explained that the increase in the air estimates is due in the civil section to reorganization, giving greater security by replacing single-engined craft with two-engined. Furthermore, the Lufthansa night service and overseas passenger services are being extended and the summer air service will be continued in the winter time. It is stated that the increases do not violate the Versailles Treaty.