The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-01-27

HearmamenC mas Deen DaIly~
hooed in the press and Parlia-
bent until the man on the street
in Great Britain will swear to
you that 1t Is going ahead full
steam.
But the foreign military at
taches know better, especially the
Germans, against whom the pro-
gram Is aimed. British cabinet
members know 1t too, but are not
shouting 1t from the housetops.
Begged
Real fact is that the rearma-
ment program has begged down.
The air program, considered the
most important of all, Is far be-
hind schedule. British factories
are not turning out planes fast
enough, and British air strength
is still only one-half of Germany's.
The naval program so far has
consisted Of keeping old ships
which had been scheduled for
the scrap heap. No new ones have
been built. The keels of two
battleships have bene laid, but 1t
will be nearly two years before
they are finished.
The army program Is In worst
shape Of all. Most serious handi-
cap Is lack Of recruits. There
are very fed. Army intelligence
reports that veterans OF the World
war are an important factor in
discouraging recruiting.
Anthony Eden
Captain Eden, young, handsome
British foreign minister, had two
brothers killed in the World war.
He escaped. Now he abhors not
only war but killing of any kind.
On visit in Norway, Eden's
friends took him on an elk shoot
ing expedition. and he as the guest
was given the privilege Of first
shot. Finally an elk came into
view, stood gracefully poised In
a clearing.
How beautiful" Eden ex-
claimed, and lowered his rifle. He
could not bear to- shoot. 1t.
General Pacifism
Captain Eden, naturally, is an
ardent pacifist. Strange also is the
fact that many other pacifistS sit
in the cabinet responsible for
Britain's rearmament program.
Among them are:
War Minister Duff C0oper-such
q devout hater Of war that he
objects to being called cap
tain" rank he won in
France.
Major Walter Elliot-Minister of
Agriculture-who actually cir
culated an office memo ask
ing that he not be called
major.
Captain Arnsby- Gore -Minister Of
Colonies-another World war
veteran.
Pacifism Is just as rampant
outside high government circles.
Bishop Sheppard, a radio preach
er, recently asked for voluntary
pledges against war, received three
million.
Significant also was Vincount
Cecil's ballot on the League of
Nations prior to the Abyssinian
crisis, which got 100000 votes
for the League Of Nations as an
instrument Of peace.
Yet England Is preparing for
war. And pacifist cabinet mem
beers are leading the prepara.
ton.
The apparent paradox is ex-
planned by Viscount Cecils' poll.
It showed an overwhelming ma
jority not only supporting the
league as an instrument Of peace,
but wanting Britain to go to war,
II necessary, to uphold 1t.
IN OTHER WORDS, THE BRI-
TISH ARE READY TO FIGHT
FOR PEACE.
Begging Reasons
Reason for Britain's arms pro-
gram begging down is not the pa
cifism Of British leaders, but the
conservatism of British industry.
British factory owners still in
sist on is per cent profit on arms
orders, whereas France has ma
tionalized its munitions plants,
and Hitler and Mussolini squeeze
the big industrialists.
Also, British factories which are
making good money selling loco
motives and textile machinery
abroad don't like to give up these
profits for armament orders. And
the British government, which
wants to keep up the British bal
ance Of trade, doesn't like to push
them.
Another difficulty Is lack of
skilled labor. Despite about two
million unemployed. there are not
enough skilled mechanics to speed
up airplane production.
Lines of Defence
British strategists divide United
Kingdom into four parts:
I. The Foreign Office, count