GERMANY ARMS.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20276, 10 April 1934, Page 1

GERMANY ARMS.

INCREASES IN ESTIMATES COMMENTED ON. Questions in Commons. BRITISH AMBASSADOR IN BERLIN TO INQUIRE. British Official Wireless. (Received April 10. 11.30 a.m.) RUGBY, April 9. When the House of Commons reassembled after the Easter recess this ! afternoon the first business was a series of questions addressed to the Foreign Secretary and Prime Minister relating to the armaments situation. Replying to questions regarding the increase in the German naval and military estimates, Sir John Simon said that, the German estimates for 1934 revealed the following increases compared with those of 1933: Increase in Total in ReichsReichsmarks. marks. Navy estimates 233,000,000 50,000,000 Army estimates 647,000,000 175,000,000 Air ' Ministry 210,000,000- 132,000,000 “ His Majesty’s Government is giving J very serious consideration to this mat- : ter and I have instructed the British Ambassador in Berlin to make inquiries of the German Government on the subject,” said Sir John. He added that he expected to receive a communication during the present week. Replying to ja. further question regarding the speech recently made by General Gooring at Potsdam, Sir John said that he did not think that had any bearing on the actual question on the paper. The Foreign Secretary was then asked what action, in view of these projected German increases in armament expenditure, the British Government intended to take to avoid a breakdown of the Disarmament Conference. He replied that Captain Eden would attend the meeting of the Conference Bureau at Geneva to-morrow and that any statement on the subject must necessarily aw’ait the outcome of this meeting. The Prime Minister was asked whether the increases in the German estimates would cause the British Government to augment immediately the Royal Air Force to a one-Power standard. He replied that while the matter was receiving the careful consideration of. the Government he could add nothing at the present moment to the statement on air policy made by. Mr Baldwin on March S.