Evening star., 1939-04-25
Britain Plans
Big Arms Fund,
|Conscriiption
Record Sum of
So, 100000
Is Sought
BACKGROUND

BRUSH tdOOr mas vigorously op.
posed military conscription as
1Uar defense measure. LatelU
hoUeUer. Britdin's small stand
ing army has been a potent point
in the aIis powerS' attempts to
persuade Balkan nations Eng
land could do little to back up
any pledges to them. Tension and
the attempts to line up Vulnerable
nations in the stop-Hitler bloc
haze changed British sentiment
ON conscription.
BY the Associated Press.
LONDON, April 25.-The British
cabinet meeting in extraordinary
session was reliably reported tonight
to have outlined a new compulsory
military service bill while the ma
ton learned of vast indirect tax
levles imposed to meet an arms
swollen budget, the biggest since the
World War.
The total budget. estimated at
,30O,0OO0oo pounds. provides $3.50.
100000 or so per cent. for defense.
1t was understood that the new
compulsory military service bill
would provide for:
l. Mandatory physical training.
2. Enforced elementary military
training for men between 10 and 21,
Sharply increased tobacco and
sugar taxes were announced today
by Sir John Simon, chancellor of
the exchequer, introducing the 1882
40 budget in the House of Commons,
but the automobile owner was the
hardest hit.
1t was believed the government
was pushing its plans for a new
military service system with the in
tention of announcing them before
Chancellor Hitler answers the
Roosevelt peace appeal on Friday.
An opportunity for announcement
OF the Governments decision on
conscription will come tomorrow
When a motion calling for con.
scrlption will be before the House
of Lords.
Envoy May Tell Hitler.
Sir Neville Henderson, who re.
turned to his post as Amba assador
10 Berlin yesterday after five.
week absence, repeatedly was di.
rected to tell Hitler the government
was taking a far-reaching decision
IN favor of conscription. Hitler was
TO be advised, it was said, that the
step was being taken as a matter
OF self defense in the present world
situation and as reflection of pop.
ular sentiment in the nation.
Numerous suggestions have been
made as to what form the initial
steps in conscription would take.
Advocates long have argued that
such sharp break with British
tradition would have great value
simply as token to the world of
the nations determination to match
power against Hitler or Premier
Mussolini of Italy.
Britain has been under pressure
from France and more recently
from Soviet Russia to put sharp
teeth such as conscription into the
Brltish-French alliance of nations,
However. it was not regarded as
likely that the cabinet was ready to
enforce full conscription, but rather
was inclined to start with soma
such measure as compulsory and
partial military training for
limited age group.
DissensiOn Seen.
Because OF Labor opposition, any
form OF conscription appeared GER
tam to cause political dissension.
Some quarters expressed belief that
Prime Minister Chamberlain could
get around this by broadening the
political complexion of his govern.
| ment and arguing that the decision
was necessary to assure Russian
support, which both Laborites and
Liberals have urged.
Chamberlain further was faced
with the task of explaining previous
statements he would not favor any
consumption during peace. time.
1t was reported that Sir William
Seeds, British Ambassador in Mos
cow had sent a message to Prime
Minister Chamberlain emphasizing
the Soviet view. This was Just be-
fore Mr.. Henderson was ordered to
return to Berlin.
British labor circles were seriously
disturbed by the conscription report.
They also argued that Hiler was
unlikely to change his Reichstag
speech next Friday, answering
Roosevelt, because of any warning
from Whitehall.
Soviet Cooperation Closer.
On the other hand foreign Office
officials theoriZed that only a threat
OF CONSUMPTION would make Hitler
realize how great a revolution had
taken place in British foreign policy
since the Munich settlement last
September.
These officials were keeping close
watch on the course of Yugoslavia,
whose foreign minister. Alexander
Cinca -Markovich. was due in Berlin
today after negotiations with Italy.
1t was believed his talks in Berlin
might be vital in swinging that
(See BRITISH, Page A-4)