fon the subject of Imperial Defence 15 'A most reassuring one from one point of view, but depressing from another.
Britain's endeavour to lead the countries of the world to disarmament both by persuasion and actual example has led to nothing. Disarmament, if not dead, is at least in a gravely moribund' condition, with prospects of resuscitation remarkably small, In her endeavours in the cause of peace Great Britain reduced her defences to a degree which aroused the gravest anxiety in the minds of her experts. For= tunately, matters have not allowed to go too far, and a sure sign of the recognition of the dangerous Position created was given in the recent decision to increase the Air Force substantially within the next four years. In other arms there 1s still much room for considerable {m= provement. The Empire requires the surest possible means of defence, not only of the British Isles, but of the Colonies and Dominions. The protec tion of the trade routes. is a "matter of primary concern, and it is clear that public opinion will not be satis fied with anything tess than adequate reparations to meet the occurrence of any possible emergency. What 15 of considerable importance in the brief account of the Chancellor of the Exchequer's speech is the suggestion that though in the case of the Air Force a time of four years has been set, the Government is prepared to accelerate fits programme if the necessity arises. The signs that'an efficient realism is succeeding the period of service to unattainable ideals, such as the disarmament conference presented, will prove gratifying to those who dreaded the possibility of Great Britsin depleting her powers of defence too greatly. Facts had sooner or later tobe looked in the face,.and that the government is now doing so will aid greatly in the
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.