The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-03-02

The estimate figures - for the fiscal year beginning April i = were but little above those for the current year. But they were held low only because Britain is mak- ing a final effort to. break the long disarmament deadlock between Germany and France.
 It was learned that Britain as part of the plan is considering the advisability of calling before the meeting of the disarmament steer ing committee April 10, a special conference of big powers. The following would be included: United States, Japan, Russia, Britain, France, Italy, Germany, Belgium, Spain, Poland and one representative of the little entente nations (Czechoslovakia, Rumania and Jugoslavia).
 A sudden and dramatic revival of disarmament activities came as Norman Davis, American dis armament delegate. and Captain Anthony Eden arrived here today. | Davis came from New York, Eden from a portentous series of talks with high officials of France, Italy, and Germany.
 | Britain's decision whether to ad- vance formally it's plan to call a special meeting will be taken aft | ter Eden reports to Sir John Simon, foreign minister, the cab inet's special disarmament com imttee and the full cabinet on his talks abroad.
 But meantime Britain told the world, and particularly Europe, that she did not intend to content herself with a small air force while other nations are talking war.
 l ' It was revealed also that within the next year Britain will build a squadron of great flying boats "to be stationed overseas" It was rumored widely that the station would be Singapore. the powerful naval base on which many mill lions are being spent because of it's strategic importance on the naval sea route between India and Aus tralia and New Zealand.
 The estimates. for the fiscal year beginning April l, provide for total expenditure of 20,165, 600 pounds sterling ($102,491,662) = but 527,000 pounds sterling (2.678,- l 477) above those for the current fiscal year.
 | Their significance, however, lay in an accompanying memorandum by Lord Londonderry, air min- ister.
 l Londonderrys statement implisd beyond doubt that Britain would defer it's previously threatened I ht,tIIinor xv,Ir fo ertxy a continental powers g. chance to end the deadlock in disarmament ne- gotiations.
 These estimates will do little, Londonderry wrote, to bridge the widening gap between the present strengths of the Royal Air force and the air services of other great powers.
 "The government has given abundant proof of the sincerity of their purpose to achieve air dis armament. They are under the necessity of making it equally plain that they can not in the in- terests of the national and imper- ial security accept the position of continuing inferiority in the air."
 The estimates provided for four additional squadrons of romnC additional 'squadrons of from nine to 12 airplanes each, bringing the total strength of the Royal Air force to 81 regular squadrons.
 One new squadron Is being add ed to the naval branch of the air force, making the naval air strength 16 squadrons. Two squadrons are to be added for home defense, making a total of A home defense squadrons.
 France objects
 Paris, March 2 - (UP) Great Britain intends soon to present to European nations a revised dis armament memorandum with the intimation that it's acceptance is the only alternative to an arms race. 1t was said authoritatively today.
 Indications were that the mem- orandum would be along lines which Britain, Italy. and Germany, already have approved, and that France. if it rejected the program,