Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-04-04
Britain S|ashes
Defense, Ending
Draft by 1860
$785 Million Topped
Off Budget; Emphasis
Placed on Missiles

roCe0 on MISSILES
LONDON, April 4 (R.-Britain
today announced a sweeping re-
vision of her defense program
designed to abolish the draft by
1860 and cut the armed forces
from 100000 men to $4,000
within five years.
Described in a government
white paper as "the biggest
change in military policy ever
made in normal times" the new
program slices defense costs by
$785 million in 1957-58. It
scraps further development of
|supersonic bombers and fighters
on the theory that these piloted
aircraft will be replaced by
guided missiles including some
to be furnished by the United
States.
Included in the cutbacks was
a newly disclosed decision to
withdraw Britain's troops from
Korea and progressively reduce
the number of those in Libya.
Date of the withdrawal from
Korea was not given, but
military sources expect them
fairly SOON" The British are
believed to have up to 5000 men
in both places.
Defense Bill Cut Sharply
Britain's revised defense bill
for 1878 was estimated at
1920. 100000 pounds ($3.976.-
900, 000).
AS outlined a year ago, the
program would have cost about
100. 100000 pounds ($4.760.-
900. 00o).
The new defense program
was outlined in an official white
paper which said the govern
ment aims to stabilize Britain's
armed forces at about $4,000
regulars by the end Of 1862.
The Defense Ministry said it
was planning on the basis of
ending the military draft by the
end of 1860. less than a year
after Prime Minister Macinil-
lan's Conservative government
must face q general election II
Parliament does not vote it out
Of office before.
The white paper stated: High
priority will continue to be given
to the development of British
nuclear weapons. Work will go
ahead on nuclear propulsion for
maritime purposes.
"Close cooperation with the
United States on defense re-
search and development, par
ticularly on guided missiles. will
be maintained"
1t added, however. that Britain
will cease work on the Develop
ment or construction of ad-
vanced types of supersonic
fighters and bombers.
Fighter aircraft will in due
course be replaced by a ground
to-air guided missile system.
the ministry said.
The white paper said the saw
ings this year are being secured
by a substantial reduction in the
overall strength of British
forces and by cutting down pro-
duction orders. In addition to
the withdrawal from Libya and
Korea. Britain's European allies
have agreed to a cut of $4,000
men in the British force in West
Germany this year. A further
cut Of $4,000 men will be re-
viewed next year by the NATO
members.
Promised Since January
The defense cuts have been
promised by the Macmillan
government ever since it took
Office last January. They have
repeatedly been the cause of
sharp differences between cabi-
net ministers and military chief
tains.
The cuts are expected to have
an important bearing on the
budget which Chancellor of the
Exchequer Peter Thorneycroft is
TO present to the nation next
Tuesday.
The government has been I'M
der pressure to introduce tax
concessions to relieve the soaring
cost Of living.
Tax relief may also restore
some Of the popularity which
the government has lost to the
Labor Party. as shown in recent
special parliamentary elections.