Evening star., 1938-03-04
BRITAIN TO GRANT
NAVY S6DO,ODD,0D|)
Figure Does Not Include
Vast Construction
Program.
BY the Associated Press.


LONDON. March 4.--Mighty Brit
ain. arming at top speed the while she
dickers for peace with Europe's die
tators, will spend over $500 O00, 900 on
her navy this year-not counting a
vast construction program which
likely will include battleships of more
than -35, 600 tons.
Details OF the building program
hinge upon current informal discus
sions with American and French
naval experts on what to do about
Japan's refusal to disclose her naval
building.
Japan refused to say whether she
was building battleships above $4,000
tons, and the indicated result of the
present discussions is that Britain
will decide to exceed the limit fixed
by the 1885 London naval treaty.
Today's naval estimates were an
nounced by Alfred Duff Cooper first
lord of the admiralty, even as Prime
Minister Chamberlain laid the ground
work for peace talks with Germany's
Fuehrer Hitler to parallel those with
Italy's Duce, Mussolini.
1888 Plan Not Mentioned.
The estimates did not include a
new construction program for 1888"
details of which will be contained in
another white paper" Duff Cooper
said.
He set regular estimates at Gl23, ,707.-
000 or $6l8.535, 5,000-fl8.6 .642 900. or
S93, 100000, more than the previous
year.
"A supplementary estimate will be
Of the work on the program to be
carried out in the forthcoming finan-
cial year" Duff Cooper asserted
Britain now has two battleships
building, and plans were for three
more to be begun This year.
The fear Of japanese building led to
revision Japan is not a signatory Of
the London treaty, but the treaty pro-
vides that its limitations may be tossed
aside in the event any power exceeds
those limitations
Totals Are FOrbidding.
The naval figures. following army
and royal airforce estimates, give
forbidding composite picture of
Britain's preparations for possible war.
Army estimates totaled 1892, 500 600
and those for the airforce $40 600,
plus sl0l, 900 for ordnance fac
tories
The total for the three services
exceeds by at least $50.000.000 the
grand total of $l,758, ,750,0 600 given by
Premier Chamberlain in his outline
of defenses in Wednesdays white
paper.
Britains Navy now has 10000 men.
an increase of 1000 Todays report
said there was planned consider
able increase" Of naval airplanes and
flyers and that appropriations to carry
on construction of vessels under 1887
or early programs had been increased
by 7.895,375 pounds. or $39,476,875.
Duff Cooper added that measures
adopted with France and Italy thus
far had been successful in the effort
to stamp out 'piratical activity in
the Mediterranean.
For Debate Monday.
The arms figures will be given to
Parliament for debate on Monday in
a session which may also touch again
on Britains new bargaining for peace
policies.
While the naval estimates made no
mention of new construction, this was
dealt with Wednesday in white
paper which outlined a program in
Guiding two battleships. an aircraft
carrier, four large cruisers, three
small cruisers, three submarines and
three mine layers.
Because the beginning of such
program involves relatively a small
proportion of the total cost, it was