Alarm

Sir Samuel Hoare, Air Secretary, created considerable excitement when he spoke of French air supremacy in presenting his estimates in the House of Commons.

Commenting on the Secretary's statements, Lord Birkenhead, the former Lord Chancellor, stated that France could, if she wished, destroy London and almost every center of industrial population in England. The usually conservative Viscount Grey in a debate in the House of Lords said that unless a sense of security could be attained in Europe, England could not possibly rest content with her present inability to defend herself against attacks in the air. The entire British press is discussing the problem and urging an increased air program. Even A. G. Gardiner, editor of the liberal Manchester Guardian, criticizes France for building up an air force superior to the combined air forces of the world, while refusing to pay a penny of her war debt.

Premier Law announced in the House of Commons that Great Britain will cooperate in enforcing disarmament of Germany under the terms of the Treaty of Versailles, despite French invasion of the Ruhr.