FOREIGN WARS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVI, Issue 21379, 23 June 1939, Page 16

FOREIGN WARS

COST TO BRITAIN The wars in Spain and China have cost the Foreign Office thousands of pounds in extra expenditure by diplomats and consuls and in the rescue of British residents. This is disclosed in the Civil Appropriation Accounts for the year ended March 31, 1938, issued recently by the Auditor-General. One of scores of miscellaneous items is £550 for overtime pay in the Foreign Office. Evacuation of British subjects from Spain cost £32,176, and the repatriation of “distressed” Britons £lBBO. The Nyon and Paris conferences on piracy in the Mediterranean cost £757 for the expenses of British delegates. A small offset to this expenditure was a saving of £BOO owing to the temporary Ambassador in Madrid. Repatriated Britons repaid £ll7O of the cost incurred in sending them home. A sum of £15,000 was set aside for the evacuation and maintenance of British refugees in China, but only just over £lOOO of this had been spent up to the end of March. Telegrams relating to the hostilities cost £78,961 —nearly £9OOO more than estimated. Special local allowances granted to consuls in China amount to £1432, and the salaries of three additional consular probationers totalled £9OO. An item of £1136 for medical attendance is ascribed to "heavy expenditure in Hankow, Shanghai, Canton and Harbin.” Establishment of an embassy at Shanghai cost only £lB6, and of a wireless station at the same place £193. The aftermath of the war in Abyssinia enabled the Foreign Office to make some economies. “Salaries and wages at Addis Ababa not required” accounted for a saving of £l4OO. Among miscellaneous expenses of the Foreign Office was £5B for a wedding present to King Farouk and £25 for presentations, etc., to foreign subjects for "services rendered.” Broadcasting, for the first time, has a separate vote. The 8.8. C. received £3,229,635, while £3640 is provided for the current year. The foreign language broadcasts are estimated to cost £200,000. Expenditure on A.R.P. during 193738 included £250,000 for the purchase of sandbags. Initial orders for 43,000,000 of these were authorised, and “further substantial purchases” -tbsequently approved. More than £5OOO was saved on salaries and travelling expenses of MP.’s. This is ascribed to by-elections, and the fact that some members declined.