London, Mar. 3. CONSIDERABLE expansion, of the national defence services is announced in the eagerly-awaited White Paper containing the Government's defence proposal which was issued this morning.
~The' document points out that the problem differs materially from the one confronting the country in the Great War. "To-day we' are, at peace," it states.
"We have to carry through, in a limited period, measures which will make exceptionally heavy demands upon certain branches of industry and certain classes of skilled labour without impeding the course'of normal trade. This will require the most careful organisation and the willing co-opera tion of both leaders of industry and of trade unions."
Containing 10,000 words, the docu ment enumerates proposed increases her ar force is undergoing Important and.dmprovements In the Navy, Army reorganization and re-equipment. The and Air Force, including: barrier of northeastern fortresses, It The laying down of two capital-shi the laying pital-ships adds, Is being extended to cover also northern departments, 'Continustion of the modernization of axiating battleships; 'The expenditure on the Belgian Tnerense of cruiser strength to 70; army' shows a heavy increase, and Steady replacement. programme for Belgium's eastern frontier fortresses segtroyers and rubmarinen: fare being rapidly strengthened and mntinuatlon of the present rate of modernized. construction of sloops and small. craft ConBlderabte increase In Fleet ale arm: The Italian army, the document de-'Substantlal increase In number of first= clares, is on a war footing, and Rome's lune aircraft, with corresponding in= air force is being rapidly completely crease In personnel, re-equipped and enlarged.
Therease In naval personnel by 6,000 by March si, 1057 The Soviet army numbers 1,300,000, Ralsing of four new Infantry batand the Russian alr force is being Inerensed.
Orginizing and equipping. existing army formations with the most modern The re-equipment of the Japenese Armament and. mater army continues in accordance with a comprehensive programme drawn up in 1995-86. The Japanese army and navy accounted for 46 per cent. of the fended. ports. at home and. abroad to Budyet, which shows a deficit of proceeded with at accelerated rate: 45,000,000.
"Reorganization. of anti-alrenatt de-concen In. southeast of, England The defence expenditure of the! extended with a view to covering" ime United States has increased from portant Industriat dstriets $n the centre 108,000,000 to. £180,000,000, exelud-_ tha north of Britain: ing pensions.
Formation of four new auxiliary Royal'
Air cree" squadrons for ce-operation with Torritorial Army:
Increase of Mat-line strength, of alr cree In Britain to approximately 1.790 aircraft, exclusive of Fleet alr arm; and Extension or dupfeation of Govern: ment munition factories, The White Paper commence Aealing with the historical por im whish connection it penditure might be avoided, "Wo really have no alternative in the present state of the world," it proceeds, "but to review our defences and provide the necessary moans both of safeguarding ourselves against aggression and playing our part in the enforcement, by common action, of international obligations, "The Government, therefore, has made a prolonged and exhaustive examination of the present stale of the Navy, Army and Alr Force, and the proposals they now make represent nothing more than what has been found essential in the present cir cumstances,"
Pointing out that the forces of other great nations can, without risk, be concentrated In the limited areas near Britain's own shores, the document says:
"Our world-wide responsibilities render this impossible, "he history of the Ttalo-Abyssinian rd The whole field, it declares, will have to be kept under constant re~ view. New conditions, whether aris-Ing from changed dispositions of other nations or from developments, design or invention, must be met by cor= responding variation in our plans.
Tre examination of the defence: problem, the While Paper proceeds, was entrusted to the sub-committee the Committee of Imperial Defence, consisting of permanent secre aries to the Treasury and the For eign OMe and the Chief-of-Stait the three services, Trelr conclusions were submitted to the Defence Committee of the Cabinet, presided over by the Prime Minister, at whose Invitation, in view of the importance of the industrial side, Lord Weir became a member of the Committee. He gave active assistance in formulating recommenda-Mlons to the Cabinet,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.