NATION’S DEFENCE

Hokitika Guardian, 24 October 1933, Page 5

NATION’S DEFENCE

THE BRITISH NAVY

BIG INCREASE NOW LIKELY

(United Pies* Association —By Electric Telegrape—Copyright. )

LONDON, October 21

The speeches by Lord Beatty and Admiral Ghat-field have aroused considerable interest in the matter of increasing the navy. The Admiralty is reticient, but the naval circles are generally confident that a naval shipbuilding programme, extending over several years, and providing for a substantial increase of the cruisers and of other light tonnage, will be introduced early in the new year.. The “Daily Telegraph” says: Lord Beatty's warning cannot be disregarded, but tlie Goverment and the nation must count tho cost of a heavy rearmament outlay. Such an outlay cannot come into the same budget as a. lowering of the income tax. Moreover, the other services will be also asking for more money, but the Government may be assured of national support for whatever may be necessary to keep the seas safe for merchant shipping.

JAPANESE NATIONAL POLICY,

ARMY AND NAVAL ARMAMENTS

TOKIO, October 20.

The Japanese Inner Cabinet have held a final conference to formulate a national policy for the period of emergency which, according to the fighting services who are the. dominators of the national policy, now confronts Japan.

The thesis of the army and navy is that this period, culminating in 1935, contains so many risks that Japan must prepare for war, since her departure from the League of Nations becomes definite in that year. The question of South Sea Islands, which the navy declares to be essential to Japan’s security will then arise. The Naval Conference assembles the same year, when Japan must be able to assert her claims for a larger crui-. ser and submarine ratio. Furthermore, the Soviet, having then completed the second Five Year Plan, will have a freer hand in the Far East. Meantime, the Russian army concentrations cannot be ignored. The Japanese policy in China will b e handicapped by dangers elsewhere.

“FRANCE MUST NOT DISARM.”

(Received this dav at 10.15 a.m.) LONDON, October 23.

The “Daily Mail” in. a leader entitled “France Must not Disarm”

•says: 1 ‘The British national has finally to consider whether vague, dubious delegations to Loearne should not be changed into a defensive alliance bottveen Britain and France.

The claim of Germany to equality of armaments will sooner or later have to he conceded and it is better conceded without further wrangling. A disarmed Franoce would probably mean war in a few months.”

STRIKE AGAfINST ARMAMENTS

URGED BY MR G. LANSBURY

(Received this day at 10.35 a.m.) LONDON, October 23,

Mr George Lansbury, speaking at Bow, appealed to young men to keep out of the airforce, army and navy, and above all, not to let their minds he full of hatred of other people. He added that he wished from the bottom of his heart that trade unions would organise a general strike against armaments.