Estimates for the current financial year regarding the cost of these defence measures are provided in an expenditure of $284,000,000. For the ensuing year provision has been made for £284000000. For the ensuing year provision has been made for £352,000,000.
Present indications are that the programmes in hand are likely to involve expenditure for defence in 1939 in® excess of the provision in the 1938 estimates.
Future expenditure will depend in particular on the degree of success which will attend the Government's efforts to achieve some appeasement in international affairs.
In conclusion the White Paper says:
"It must be expected that, even on -the assumption that 1939, as it now seems probable, will be a peak year in defence expenditure, the total expenditure for defence for over the five financial years of 1937 te 1941 will exceed the £1,500,000.000 mentioned the White Paper of February, 1937.."—Reuter.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.