The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-07-13

wide open to attack and seizure.
 Thus the proposal to adopt con- scription among the 1,0O0 900 popula- ton (largely Chinese who are Brit ish subjects) of Hong Kong would irl- dicate that the government had de- cided on drastic measures, If neces- sary, to defend Empire interests in the Far East. It also was believed to be of importance as a test of whether corscription might be ex- tended to all British crown colonies and as a gesture of the new British preparedness against any foe.
 Meanwhile, the surge of anti- British propaganda in Japan con- tinued in preparation for the open ing Saturday of negotiations at To- kyo for settlement of the Japanese British conflict at Tientsin, where the British concession has been url- der blockade. Behind the technical reasons 10 rthe blockade, Japan was understood to be demanding that Britain drop It's alleged pro-Chinese attitude and cooperate with Japan's program for dominance in North China.
 Another Dispute
 still another grave problerl of Empire defense arose between the so-called democratic and totali- tartan blocs when Italy disclosed she had advised France of Italian "res- ervations" to the recent agreement between France and Turkey return ing the Province or Sanjak of Alex andretta to Turkish rule.
 Acting under the 1920 agreement among allied powers, the Fascist government pointed out that the French Turkish deal had been con- cluded without here knowledge and said that Italy reserved the right to object. The possibilities of a dis pute over Alexandreet were great because of its importance as a naval base adjacent to the French man. dated territory of Syria in the east ern Mediterranean.
 France turned Alexandretta over to Turkey in return for a Turkish pledge to join the European security front and aid in opposing any ag- gression in the eastern Mediterran- can, but effectiveness of Italy's for tified islands - the Dodecanese - in that area might easily be offset by Alexandretta in event of 8 fu- ture conflict in the great inland sea.
 Tighten Np With Spain
 At the other end of the Mediter- ranean, the Fascist governments foreign minister, Count Galeazzo Ciano, was busily trying to tighten relations with Spain but without any definite indications of success. Ciano conferred with General Fran cisco Franco and was understood to have invited him to visit Premier eBnito Mussolini, but the possibility of Spanish adherence to the Nazi- Fascist military alliance continued uncertain.
 But 10 days ago British and French military and naval commanders met quietly at Singapore and surveyed the possibilities of defending their interests in the Orient. It was un- derstood they decided that prepar- ations were sufficient, regardless of developments in Europe, to stand off any foe in the southern areas.
 Money Pours Into Arnaments
 London, July 13.-(UP)-The gov- ernment, pouring wealth into its armaments program in amounts never approached in peace time, caleld for 32,000 more men for the air force today and asked another $866, AS, ,000.
 The air force proposal will bring the total air force personnel to 150,000 men, exclusive of India.
 The new supplementary estimates bring the total budget estimates for defense for the fiscal year to $3,- 827, ,465 000, with more to come.
 Britain's normal defense estimates, for the year which began April, were 8 little under $3000,000, 900. That was a peace time record.
 Today's estimamtes allotted $674,- 445, 1000 for the new ministry of sup ply, which is to insure that Britain, in event of war, has no shortage of munitions or toher supplies such as hampered It's fighting forces in the World War.
 The air force gets $188 100000, of which $69,000,000 will go to buy air. planes and balloons and $4l, ,000, ,000 for land and aircraft factories.
 These new estimates came "A hours after announcement that the war office would ask an additional $370 100000 including $121,400, 900 for formation of the new conscript mi- litia. whose first recruits are to report for training Saturday; $61,- 500000 for reinforcement of the territorial arlv or National Guard, and $l65 100000 for acceleratiT1 of the army defense program-buying anti-aircraft guns, building ord- nance and munitions depots and so fnrth