BRITAIN'S REARMAMENT

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 211, 22 September 1937, Page 5

BRITAIN'S REARMAMENT

(British OBfci&l Wixelesi.)

Forced on Her by World Situation mr eden's geneva speech

EUGBY, Sept.. 20. "Britain is anxious to see international eonditions created in wkick all nations can kave greater opportunities economically and can hope to zaise the standard of life." This statement was made at the meet- " ing of the League Assembly at GeneVa to-day. In reference to political affairs, Mr. Eden instanced the rearmament programme forced on Britain by the deterioration of the international situation as an example of the failure of the world to niake cffective the imiversal will of the people for peace, and itB results on those not engaged, difectly or indirectly, in the conflicts of the moment. Britain, said Mr. Eden% had 450,609 j tons of warskips under constrtiCtion. The last three naval programmes represented an aggregate expenditure df £135,000,000. The naval force was being expanded at a rate without precedent in^Britain in a time of peace. The Boyal Air Force was being expanded and equipped with formidable results. The Army was also growing ih strengtk with ever-inczeasing momentum. Yet, the League stood for the priiiciple, generally accepted in 1919, that war did not benefit either victor or vanquished. That remained as the declared attitude of Britain, who believed war to be wasteful and futile. There was no dispute that could not be settled by pacific means, and Britain was determined always to seek such a solution.