THE COST OF ARMAMENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 February 1932, Page 4

THE COST OF ARMAMENTS.

Ths untoward happenings in China and the consequential activity of the League of Nations in regard thereto have somewhat overshadowed the disarmament efforts of that organisation. Nor is it difficult to understand that with Japan, an active member of the League and one of its executive councillors, actually employing military force to bring about redress of alleged improper treatment it is a little ironical for the other members of the League to discuss disarmament and the elimination of all argument by force of arms. Nevertheless the figures given to the League by the Russian Soviet of the cost of armaments in that mysterious republic are sufficiently startling to bring the economic side of disarmament prominently before the nations. The Soviet admits an annual expenditure of £120,000,000 upon its naval, army and air forces. Judging from other statements made by the Russian Government the figures are not likely to be exaggerated, but as they stand they are ominous enough. Great Britain’s expenditure last year for defence purposes was slightly under £92,000,000 and that of France about £116,000,000, while Italy’s programme, especially in regard to the navy and air force, was also comprehensive. With expenditure upon armaments by four European Great Powers totalling nearly £400,000,000 a year, the drain upon an impoverished civilisation is too obvious to need more emphasis than the figures themselves supply. Nor is it surprising that with these facts before it the United States is asking that before debtor nations approach it for relief from war debts they should show real determination to relieve Europe of at least some of the awful incubus of armament expenditure. In all the lesser States there is the same unreasoning expenditure, all in the sacred name of home defence, yet all the time developing a sense of international distrust that is the best nursery for the growth of the warlike spirit. The "ethical arguments in favour of disarmament are unanswerable, though their influence is slow in making itself felt. The economic objections to the colossal waste involved are even more patent. Civilisation is starving for lack of' international confidence and international funds. While armaments increase there is little hope of those needs becoming satisfied.