Canberra, Mar. 24.
Mr, Joseph Lyons, the Commonwealth Prime Minister, - announced the. new three-year defence programme to-day, involving additional expenditure amounting to £24,850,- 000.
This sum is to be apportioned as follows; Navy, £7,750,000; Army. £5,500,000; Air Force, £8,800,000; Munitions, £2,800,000. The total expenditure for defence in the next three years would be £43,000,000.
The Government, the Prime Minister declared, was buying from Great Britain two cruiserg completed in 1936, It would hand over the seaplane-carrier Albatross to offset a portion of the cost. The Government also planned to build two sloops and three local defence vessels.
The personnel of the Navy, Mr. Lyons continued, would be increased by 1,500 men, The Air Force would be increased to 198 first-line machines, in addition to reserves, by 1941 and the anti-submarine and anti-aircraft defences of principal ports would be strengthened.
The Prime Minister stated that particular attention would be paii to the defences at Port Darwin as an important adjunct of the Singapore Naval Base—Reuter.
In winding up the debate for the Government, Sir John Simon declared that their policy was, at whatever cost, to make the country safe by making it strong. They believed that this was the best guarantee for peace "We are making no threats," he said, "but we shall show, and invite the country to show, determination, which will be all the more impressive because it will be the determination of a free people.
"This policy calls for ce-operation irom each, according to the help he can bring.
"We appeal for goodwill and help from all and, in view of the issues at stake, we are confident that good. will and help will be forthcoming (loud Ministerial cheers).
The debate was heard by a House crowded in every part. Among those in the Diplomatic Gallery were the American, Soviet, Belgian, Chinese, and Argentine Ambassadors and the Ministers of seven European states, including Czechoslovakia.
"Statement of Attitude"
At the outset Mr, Chamberlain described his pronouncement as a statement on "the attitude of His Majesty's Government as affected by recent events in Europe." He insisted on the word "attitude" in contra distinction to poli nce the fundamental basis of British foreign policy, he said, remained unchanged in the maintenance and preservation of peace and the establishment of a sense of confidence that peace would, in fact, be maintained The statement reviewed, in turn.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.