Evening star., 1939-02-20
Italy 10 Increase
Garrison inLibya,
Commons Informed
80, 900 More to Be Sent
Butler Declares Lord
Perth Was Told
BACKGROUND

Great Britain has been en-
gagged last four OF fue years in
rearming program in response to
arms expansion OF Germany and
Italy. Tro gears ago fpe-year
arms plan to cost 81 800 900 900
1CGs announced in Britain, but
cost estimates repedled since
then are likely to bring the final
figure up to $4,000 900 900. Gop-
ernment plans to spend $780,
100000 in coming fiscal year
alone ,Uere announced last Ueek.
BY the Associated Press.
LONDON. Feb. 20.-An italian de-
cision to send 10000 more troops"
to Libya. in North Africa, was an
nounced today in the House of Com
mons as the British government
sought approval of its costly re-
armament program.
R. A. Butler, undersecretary for
foreign affairs, said Italy had in
formed Lord Perth, British ambas-
sador to Rome. she was sending
10000 more troops to Libya I"
to provide for the security of the
North African territory.
1t was revealed last Wednesday
by the Chicago Daily News cor
respondent in Rome that Italy
had informed Lord Perth of her
intention to increase her Libyan
garrison by 10000
Thirty thousand troops had re-
malned in Libya after reductions
in the force had been effected under
the Anglo-Italian acord ratified last
November.
King George VI and Prime Min
lister Chamberlain conferred with
key defense chiefs prior to the full
dress rearmament debate in the
House of Commons set against a
background of increasing European
tension over Spain and Italian
French differences.
The monarch received VisCount
Gort, chief of the imperial general
staff, who recently returned from a
tour of Britain's Near Eastern de-
fenses. and Mr.. Chamberlain con-
ferred with Admiral Baron Chat
field and Admiral Sir Roger Back
house. lord commissioner of the ad-
mlralty and chief of the naval staff.
Lord Chatfleld was named minis
ter for r-ordination of defense in
the cabinet shakeup January %
and recently returned from study
of Indian defenses.
Parliament O. X. Asked.
The British government asked
Parliament to approve what prob
ably is the costliest peace time re-
armament program in history. its
purpose strengthened by uneasy de-
Velopments in the European strug-
gle for mastery of Spain and the
Mediterranean.
A two-day debate on defense
opened in the House OF Commons,
1t promised important revelations
on foreign policy, Britain's present
strength or weakness and the
progress of rearmament.
The resolution to increase the
governments borrowing power for
defense from f4OO,OOO.0OO (s2.OOO,-
000,000) to G8OO,OOO,OO0 $4,000, 900, :
O00) was to be moved by Sir John
Simon, chancellor of the exchequer.
$4,000, ,OO0,0 for Defense in '39.
Defense in the coming financial
year will cost the staggering sum of
f580,000,000 $4,000, 0,000,0OO, as an
nounced in a government white
paper February Is
The British public eagerly awaited
possible hints as to how the money
would be raised-whether by loans
or partially through increased tax
alton.
The opposition was not opposing
a huge speed up in armament but
prepared a demand for fuller infor-
nation on the governments plans
and a criticism of "glaring weak
nesses' in defense preparations.
Common Front Meeting Denied.
A report published by an Italian
newspaper that Adolf Hitler, Mus
sollni and Generalissimo Franco
would meet soon to plan "a common
'front.' against the democracies could
not be confirmed in Rome or Burgos
and was denied in Berlin.
Britain and France were concerned
about Japanese occupation OF Hal
nan Island, believing it was a
timed move after consultation
with her axis partners, Berlin and
Rome.
AS an indication of French wari-
ness, the Maginot defense line bor-
dering Germany will go into a 36-
hour state Of alert" Wednesday.
WW non;od Pahoo.:..