Talk of Trade Lag Dubbed Dangerous in Commons London, Dec. 14..
Britain's rearmament programme would not slow down for four or five years, declared the Minister for the Ca-Ordination of Defence, Sir Thomas Inskip, in a speech ato luncheon to-day given by the National Union of Manufacturers.
The programme, Sir Thomas Inskip sold, was gathering fresh momentum every day, and the nation was united in lis determination to carry out the full programme. There was no reason for the slightest lament of gloom or depression.
Industry generally, the Minister continued, was developing.at the same time, Sir 'Thomas recalled that in 1913- 14 "we spent £77,000,000 on the defence services; in 1924, £113,000,000, and last year £278,000,000." In 1938-40, he added, "we shall' spend According to the Board df Trade returns for. November, imports total-Ted £97,251,000, an' increase October of £1,165,000 and on the previous November of £18,571,000.
Exports last month amounted to 45,183,000, 'a. decrease on October £2,092,000 but an. increase November last year of £6,741,000.—Reuter, Talk of Slump Refuted London, Dec. 15.
"I consider any talk of an oncoming slump not only exaggerated but dangerous," asseried Mr. Neville Chamberlain, "the Prime Minister, amid ministerial cheers, when asked by Mr. Robert Gibson in the House of Commons to-day to state the Government's policy "to meet the serious unemployment problem that fig threatening the country, in. view of the oncoming slump.
Mr, Chamberlain added: "This country is in a far better position to meet any temporary decline In trade than at any time since the war—Reuter.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.