WORLD BALANCE

Waikato Times, Volume 123, Issue 20690, 28 December 1938, Page 5

WORLD BALANCE

UPSET BY GERMANY AMERICA’S ARMS PROGRAMME ADDITIONS TO AIR FLEET (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) NEW YORK, Dec. 27 It is learned from an authoritative source that President. Roosevelt’s arms programme, shortly to be introduced in Congress, provides for the addition of 19,000 aeroplanes, making a total of 13,000, says the Washington correspondent of the Associated Press. In support of the proposal there will be startling evidence that Germany’s aerial programme threatens to upset completely Iho w orld balance of military and political power. It is believed that Mr Roosevelt’s message to Congress will slate that the security of the nation and its neighbours is threatened by the armed might of aggressive States.

GERMANY AND ITALY

RESERVISTS IN READINESS THE PROBLEMS OF EUROPE (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) PARIS, Dec. 27 It is understood that Italian reservists have been warned lo hold themselves in readiness for the end of January. Similarly, the leave of German officers lias been cancelled for January and February. Four hundred aeroplanes have been assembled at Pantellaria, the Italian island in the Mediterranean. Informed quarters in Paris at first thought that the Italian Foreign Minister, Count Ciano, when visiting Budapest, might support a common frontier between Poland and Hungary, but it is learned that he is probably working closely with Herr Hitler, and will press Germany’s scheme for an independent Ukrainian State. It is pointed out that he would be unlikely to do this unless Italy’s Tunisian aims were supported by Herr Hitler.