1937-02-18 — Page 6

THE CHINA MAIL, FEBRUARY 18, 1937.

MR. CHAMBERLAIN MAKES A CHALLENGE Commons Debate Colossal Arms Programme

OPPOSITION DISLIKE LOAN

A challenge to critics to show that the the scheme was bigger than necessary was the feature of the great full-dress de- bate on the British rearmaments pro- gramme, opened in the House of Commons yesterday when the Chancellor of the Ex- chequer, Mr. Neville Chamberlain, rose to explain the Government's action.

Introducing the defence loan resolution, Mr. Chamberlain said that the real justification for the loan was to be found in the un-

SHAME AND DISGUST He concluded by saying that no-

least of ali

himself, Chancellor

Ex- of

one,

25

the

Mr. Neville Chamberlain chal- lenged House of Commons critics to show that the colossal arms plan was of exaggerated propor- tions in relation to the needs.

LONDON REPORTS

German Ships For

Turkey

Istanbul, To-day. Germany has contracted to build fourteen merchant ships for Turkey at a cost of $10,000- 000 in Turkish money, payable through a clearing agreement. --Reuter

Britain's representatives at the Conference are to urge a vast in- crease in the strength of the Bri- tish Navy, so that even the most distant Dominions and their sea communications may be adequately. defended.

"Dominion statesmen, to whom the King will emphasise the urgen- cy of the issues to be faced in the. present unsettled state of the world, will announce their coun- tries' contributions to the new de- fence plan.

"Many Dominion

Premiers will make a striking demonstration of Empire loyalty to the new King. This may take the form of unex- pectedly generous financial support of the Empire defence plan. ”

NEW METHODS

precedented conditions which chequer, could see the growing have forced such a vast expen-accumulation of burdens without diture upon us.

feelings of disgust and shame that Since the War vast quantities of civilisation was preferring to break new weapons had been invented, as its own back instead of trying to well as means of transport devices settle its own differences by give

bution of which he was aware, be- and equipment.

and take..

For the time being they could doing discussed at present-Reuter. EVEN THE FIGURE OF £1,500,000,000

FIVE nothing but set their teeth and go OVER YEARS COULD NOT BE RE-forward with measures they could

This statement follows reports not afford to lay aside. GARDED AS FINAL

in the London newspapers to the LABOUR CRITICISM Mr. F. W. Pethick-Lawrence effect that in May next, while Bri- If circumstances allowed them to

voiced tain is enjoying the Coronation The Chancellor of Exchequer re- reduce the programme, all the bet- (Labour, Edinburgh East) ter.

On the other hand, if condi- his Party's opposition to the loan. festivities, King George VI will ferred in his speech to the vast in- He contended that a policy of in-open a momentous conference, the crease in the cost of armaments tions again changed disadvantage- ously, they might find that the figure flation was created disguised as a object of which is to make the Em-since the close of the Great War.

some backspire safe and strong for years to Every country, he said, had been did not represent the total Britain tax, which fell upon would be obliged to spend on. de-east able to bear it, and left people come.”

making every effort to increase its fettered with a burden of debt for The newly-crowned King, im- own striking power by the inven- years to come.

mediately after his Coronation, will tion and development of new wea Sir Archibald Sinclair (Liberal, open an Imperial Conference at St. pons, new means of transport, new Caithness) said that the Opposi-James's Palace in the presence of equipment.

all the Dominion Premiers. tion Liberals supported any armament measure for which the necessity was proved.

fence.

by

NO WAR THEORIES Replying to an interjection Mr. Arthur Henderson (Labour, Kingswinford) asking whether Bri- tain would be fighting her own bat- tles or forming part of a system of collective security, Mr. Chamberlain said it would not be in the public interest to state the theory of whom they were going to fight or who might be their allies.

The Government's plans were not directed against any particular Fo wer or group of Powers, but it was the Government's duty to submit a programme necessary for the safety and fulfilment of their obligations.

VARIOUS FORMS

Mr. Chamberlain continued by saying that the Treasury would raise the money either by Treasury Bills or by various forms of loan, either with or without a sinking fund

-

Every new means of offence called for some correspond- ing development in defence, and he PROTECTION FOR ALL

bardly knew which was the more "He will present to them the most expensive of the two. ambitious scheme for Empire de But Britam, with its vast respon- fence that Britain has ever devised.sibilities, and its multitudinous

"Sir Maurice Hankey, Secretary vulnerable points, could not neglect. of the Committee of Imperial De- its equipment, either for defence or dangerous but inescapable neces-fence, has drawn up a plan which offence.

INESCAPABLE

The police of the dictator coun- tries had made such expenditure of rearmament in Britain an evil an

sity.

will enable Britain, with the co It must equip itself at Home and all its lines of com- The House must be satisfied that operation of the Dominions, to pro-along

tect every part of the Empire from manication with the newest methods it was getting full value for its

It' must sudden attack whether by land, sea, of repelling attack and and that the Government money

(Continued on Page 7) was pursuing a policy of peace which would make a substantial 7 part of this great armament expen- diture unnecessary.

NOT ANSWERED Replying to criticism by the La- bour Opposition of the defence loan

The assertion of Major Attlee, leader of the Labour Party, that it proposals, Mr. Chamberlain de clared that the Labour Party had was essentially a war measure, was fundamentally untrue because fun- not answered his question in regard damentally it was a measure for the to whether they did or did not chal- preservation of peace.

For Coughs

Søre Throat-Colds Bronchitis Asthma Thoat And Chest Troubles Breathe In The Care With

lenge the extent of the programme.

The White Paper, he stated, em phasised that much of the expendi ture was not recurrent.

DOMINIONS POSITION. Referring to the Dominions, the Chancellor said that he did not in- tend to suggest that we had any right to call on the Dominions to make any contribution to the com-

the popular antiseptic, soothing lozen- mon fund.

Respiroids, They bring speedy re- lief. At chemists everywhere,

RESPIROIDS

He pointed out that the Do minions had spent a great deal of money upon improving their ow defences, and that was their contri- bution to the common fund, but there was no other form of

or air.

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