“WE HAVE NOT SET THE PACE”

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLV, Issue 21091, 18 July 1938, Page 7

“WE HAVE NOT SET THE PACE”

ARMS RACE DENOUNCED BY CHANCELLOR Humanity Mortgaging Great Fart of Future Resources British Official Wireless (Received July 17, 6.30 p.m.) RUGBY, July 16. “It is not with any pride or exultation that I have to present to the British nation a £1,000,000,000 Budget,” said the Chancellor of the Exchequer (Sir John Simon) in winding up the debate in the House of Commons on the third reading of the Finance Bill. “We can take pride in the courage and resolution with which our fellow countrymen shoulder the burden. We can get some satisfaction and justification in the knowledge that it is not we who set the pace, and we can get some comfort from the knowledge that this country can endure it, at least, as well as the rest of the world. But I must say that my overwhelming feeling is one of revulsion and resentment that humanity is really engaged in mortgaging so immense a part of its resources in preparation for a possible Armageddon, when so much might be done with those resources, if only a solution of the difficulties could be found. “This country has got resources in character, courage, and history, which will see us through,” added the Chancellor. “Let there be no mistake—if we do not succeed and the world does not succeed in finding some way in which we can prevent the folly of this ever-increasing expenditure on armament, then indeed the future we are preparing for our children is one at which we may shudder.” Air Ministry’s Big Order Sir Kingsley Wood announces that the Air Ministry has placed an immediate initial order with Lord Nuffield’s new factory for 1000 high-speed Spitfire fighters. “The Daily Herald” estimates that the order placed with Lord Nuffield will cost the Government £10,000,000, and the factory will employ 12,000 to 15,000 workers. “The only interpretation that can be given the aeroplane order to Lord Nuffield’s factory is that Britain desires to give a signal for an international armament race,” declared a Berlin Government spokesman. “It is an invitation for the world to engage in an arms competition.”