ADDITION TO AIR FORCE

Taranaki Daily News, 20 December 1933, Page 5

ADDITION TO AIR FORCE

“DISAPPOINTING” INCREASE

BRITAIN’S POLICY UNCHANGED

PROBLEM OF ARMS URGENT

EVERY EFFORT BEING MADE

By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright. Rec. 10 p.m. London, Dec. 18. The Royal Air Force estimates for 1934 provide for four new squadrons consisting of about sixty machines, mostly fighters, says the, aviation correspondent of the Daily Telegraph. It is expected that Lord Londonderry in presenting the estimates will also foreshadow an early increase in the auxiliary air force. The increase of only four regular squadrons in one year is disappointing, the correspondent says, but the Government does not regard the situation as serious enough to call for a greater increase. In the House of Commons Mr. R. A. Eden, Under-Secretary of Foreign Affairs, said that so far as he was aware it was not a fact that in most countries of Europe the strength of aircraft specifically designed for bombing was being increased. He understood all types of aircraft might be used to some extent for bombing. It was to meet this difficulty that Articles 34 and 35 of the British draft disarmament convention were designed. The proposals contained in those articles continued to represent the policy of the British Government. The whole problem of disarmament was vitally urgent, Mr. Eden said, and every effort was being made to achieve a general agreement covering all aspects of the problem.