ARMAMENT RIVALRY.

Hokitika Guardian, 26 March 1923, Page 1

ARMAMENT RIVALRY.

AN AIR LEAGUE. AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CAULS ASSOCIATION. LONDON, Alareh 23 The “Evening Standard” interviewed Lord Birkenhead, who said: “An air league should lie formed immediately to educate public opinion on the lines of the Navy League. Constant pressure, both on Parliament and on the country was necessary to create a new atmosphere, in which the Government would cease talking, and begin to act. Tlie Government," he said, “admit that we are helpless as visnvis with France. If she wished France could destroy London and other big towns without a warning. I do not believe that the country will consent to he at tlie mercy of any other Power, whether friendly or unfriendly. I won’t hiny my head os-trieh-.like in the sand or ignore the fact that an overwhelming mindi?r of influential French Generals dislike and distrust Britain. France is engaged in a policy which is being daily revealed more clearly as political first and economic second; and a policy of which Britain profoundly disapproves. Aloreover, many influential writers in France are daily indulging in sneers and menaces at the expense of Britain. The people of Britain are a siting how France, which pays nothing like our taxation, and lias no unemployment, can alford this prodigious expenditure, when she refuses to pay the capital and interest on her debt to us. 1 do not believe that the British are prepared to he the only nation to pay war indemnity or to accept the suggestion that we pay our debts and receive nothing from our debtors. What peril makes ii necessary for France to he eight limes stronger in the air than wef There is no serious provocation I The answer is that tlie French preparations are not an actual menace but are wanted to strengthen the tongue of diplomacy.”

The “Pall Alall Gazette” states the Air Ministry has made highly successful progress with its experiments with Louis Brennan’s helicopter. Colonel Amer.v, speaking at Birmingham, said that Britain had reduced her armaments, believing her example would he followed. She hail doin' more than was demanded under the Washington agreement. Her licet was still larger than Japan’s, hut until they had oil stores all the way to the Far East, they had to depend on the friendship of Japan, and not upon their naval strength There was a limit to the risks that could he run, and lie thought It, had been reached. America and Japan were holding off, owing to the action of Franee. RUSSIAN PR EPARATIDNS. LONDON, Alareh 21 A Russian correspondent of tlie “.Morning Post” referring to a flamboyant claim by the Soviet Government that il is anxious to proceed with disarmament when tlie European conditions make such a step possible, describes the Bolshevist military authorities’ policy as the spending of the last resources inherited from the Imperial regime on a violent campaign for the strengthening of tlie army. The latest phase of this campaign is a demand for a mighty air force, which must exceed the combined forces of all the western powers. The now?paper "fsvestia” has opened a sub-

scription liMt , the first "Cell’s appeal yielding 70t),(Mill,lin'd,IKH) roubles, which are estimated to he sufficient to build one machine. The industrial and commercial firms are being invited to subscribe from their profits one aeropiano each, and ii is being gently hinted that "if .such a subscription is not: I'm tlieomiug, the concerns iii question mav find themselves faced by new difficulties in the way of developing their industries.” "Isveslia’ wrote iceent]v: ...-The ihe of aeroplanes by the Imperialistic western governments lor tile suppression ol tile rebellious people in Afghanistan and in India, shows what a powerlcd factor a gigantic fleet of aeroplanes would prove, in aiding those oppressed nationalities to free themselves from the yoke ot their western capitalist masters, and also for the spreading of the world revolution. "A Society of Friends of the Red Air Forces has Loon formed for the purpose of propaganda among the urban masses. .! t claims lo he able to provide funds in the course of one yon i*. suliieienl to build one hundred and tilly machines. THE FRENCH NAVY. BARIS. March 23. The Government has tabled a new naval shipbuilding lnil covering twenty years, making allowance in tut lire const met ion* for scientific progress and :h - velopnient of foreign navies. The I Hull Sea Fleet will eon.-i-t of hat tie-hips totalling 177.800 tons, cruisers. i< rpedo boats and destroyers aggregating 300000 toil', submarines. 03.000 and plane carrying ships 00.000 tons. Further hills will determine each years’ construction. and the Government declares that though it limy have the right under the Washington Treaty it does ted propose, at present, to lay down any large battleships. YFKsM’IM fsf'RAI'RED BY BRITAIN. LONDON. Alai". 1. 23. Speak mg m London, i.t.-l I. Ameiy •aid that Britain had -crapped warships totalling I .(VWI.nOO tons since the Washington ( .inference, or v uh ship* m the .--nurse ol con-truetioii and auxiliary i vessels scrapped, some 2.000.(!ilQ tens. | including. 3> hati h'ship- and LaiHe | crui-ei's. 33 cruisers. 283 destroyers. | pq inruedo boats and 10! se'an'riue-.