STRENGTHS COMPARED

Taranaki Daily News, 30 November 1934, Page 5

STRENGTHS COMPARED

BRITAIN MUST NOT LAG PREPARED FOR RE-ARMING CLOSE GERMAN SECRECY Rec. 5.5 p.m. London, Nov. 23. Nothing so impressed the House in the German rearmament debate as Mr. Baldwin’s announcement regarding the enormous agumentation of Germany s air budget and the greatly increased fighting aircraft production capacity within six months, all of which, with her military forces, constituted violation of the Versailles obligations. It was widely considered at the conclusion of the debate that although Mr. Baldwin had emphasised that war was not imminent and that Germany was unlikely to equal Britain’s air force for two years, Britain had no alternative to undertaking a great air construction programme in the interest of the community. The debate arose on an amendment to the Address to the Throne moved by Mr. Winston Churchill, stating: “In the present circumstances of the world the strength of Britain’s defences, especially in the air, are inadequate.” Mr. Churchill said that to urge preparation for defence was not to assert the imminence of war. Germany ’ v^ s rearming, and what concerned Britain most was that Germany was rearming in the air. Britain ought, at all costs, to maintain in the next ten years a substantially stronger air force than Germany. There was no reason to assume that Germany would attack Britain, but it was not pleasant to feel that her Government might soon have the power to do so. German arming must be cleared up. Mr. Churchill contended that the Government measures for strengthening the air force were inadequate. Britain would be unable to intervene usefully in sustaining the peace of Europe if she, herself was the most vulnerable of aIL HOPE NOT ABANDONED. Mr. Baldwin, who stated that the subject had engaged the attention of the Government for some time, said he had not yet given up hope of some kind of armament limitation or restriction. He desired to say nothing which would make more difficult the approaches which must follow from their discussions, but one of the foundations of suspicion and malaise in Europe to-day was not only the fear but the ignorance outside Germany and the secrecy inside. Mr. Baldwin sketched the political developments in Europe of the past year or two following the change in regime in Germany. He particularly referred to the withdrawal of Germany from the League of Nations and the Disarmament Conference, which occurred at a moment when there were fair hopes of accomplishing something more substantial than had been the case for many years. The team work at Geneva among the European nations was thus broken in relation to a nation whose presence was cf the first importance. Mr. Baldwin ref erred to the signs of nervousness which had followed in different parts of Europe and which would not have occurred had not Germany lett the League and had not her internal actions with regard to armaments been shrouded from that date in mystery. He expressed the hope that when this question was considered in Germany they would ask themselves whether the price Germany was paying in this mental condition of Europe was worth the secrecy that was being maintained and the breaking of the link at Geneva. Referring to particular points raised by Mr. Churchill in regard to the extent of German rearmament, Mr. Baldwin said that the secrecy enshrouding what was going on in Germany had made it difficult for him to give particulars. Rumours had been prevalent about the formation of an army, and the British Government believed that they were founded on fact and that Germany was increasing and extending her long-service army cf 100,000 men into a short-service, prewartime army of 300,000. That was the claim made for her at the time she left the Disarmament Conference. To what extent it had been completed he could not say for certain. "I think it correct to say that the Germans are engaged in creating an air force,” continued Mr. Baldwin. "I think that most of the accounts given in this country'and in the Press are very much exaggerated. I cannot give the actual number of service types of aircraft, but I can give two estimates, between which the correct, figures can probably be found.

‘"The figures we have range from the figure given on excellent authority and from a source of indisputable authority —BN military aircraft altogether—to the highest figure that we have been given, also from a very good source —not over HOT. The probability is that the figure ranges between these two, but nearer which 1 cannot say. So far as we know no service units have yet been formed, although they have seme bombers, but there is great haste being shown in th® preparation of aerodromes and, great secrecy in their construction and as to where they are.” Mr. Baldwin said Britain's first line air strength at home and abroad was BS3 aircraft, behind which was a far lax«er number held for replacement, experiment, etc. Britain would not be caught j unprepared. in the event of an emeri gency. : The Government bad announced the ! 1935-36 Air Force programme, which i would increase the first line by SOT air- • craft over the present figure. Arrangements were being made for an increase in the reserve of air officers. The Government was determined not to accept any position of inferiority with regard to any force' Germany might raise in toe future. “There is no ground at this moment for alarm and stiff less for panic," added Mr. Baldwin. “No immediate menace has TT ISZ’X XSIXX O-* anyone in Europe, and there is no actual emergency. We must, however, leak ahead, far there' is ground for very .grave anxiety. Th® Government has been rratching the situation for some months and will continue to watch it" “Regarding our own air strength ,th® things that matter are the prices, engines and mechanics,” said Mr. Lloyd George. “We can have all these things if we develop the air services of the Empire, but while the air is the most important menace' in Europe, in 'the Pidfle I it .is a naval matter. Japan is diemanffityt | equality' with Britain and the United States. If the naval conference fails nothing cam save us from the old competition in big ship construction..” Security rested more in disarmament than rearmament, he said. Mr. Baldwin had appealed to Germany; could mt he extend it to ether countries? It w» difficult to put up a German care to-day as the German Goverament .in the I»t IS months had offended and 'exasperated every class of Jew, Gentile, Protestant, Catholic, Communist, Socialist, tad® r-m- and ronstitutionalist. “Yet w® must make it clear to rhe German people that we desire to impartially consider her grievancs and recognise that she has waited vainly for 14 years for the Powers to obey the treaty promises to disarm but has found everyone except Britain piling up .armaments,” added Mr. Lloyd George. LABOUR AMENDMENT. Mr. Morgan Jones moved a Labour amendment to Mr. Churchill’s amendment expressing regret that the Government had embarked on a counter policy of ini creased armaments, which was calculated to lead to a renewal cf mternattonal rivalry, hindering durable peace through the League of Nations. ■ Mr. Lloyd George said the debate had cleared 'the air. It should be reeognired abroad that though there might be differences about the methods there was no doubt that Britain was prepared fa defend the liberties and the honour c! the country and the Empire. Ha hoped the Government before deciding cn a defensive system as a whole would consult the Empire. Then it would be entitled to ask that upon an agreed policy the Dominions should come in TMs was not done before the Great War. Mr. Lloyd George added that toe French Cabinet last week had cheered the Russian army and air force as a guarantee of security of peace and property. H® predicted that within a year toe twa Conservative elements in Britain would be looking to Germany as a bulwark against Communisn in Europe. 'Sir John Simon, replying » toe debate, said full information regarding Mr. Baldwins statement was given before toe debate to Germany, France. Italy and the United States. This was done because it was not an Anglo-German, but a wcrid problem. These communicaiticas constituted a new’ develcpmeni and might create a new satua&m. Britain had declared afresh ta the wadci that it. 'wtnted regulated, limltawsu. and mt petitive. unregulated aratramewts. It was a new effort firznljr to Labour's amendment, was ciefeatod hy No votes to 35- Mr. Churchills amendment was withdrawn. Herr von Ribbentrop, Herr Hitter s disarmament envoy, at present ex route to Berlin, will shortly visit ML 'Laval French Foreign Minister, with an unofficial proposal that Germany should join the League cd Nations in exchange for armaments' equality., says the Faris correspondent of toe Daily MaSL An offer to negotiate directly with France regarding the Saar is also expected.