GREAT BRITAIN: Belated Conversion

Prime Minister Clement Attlee told a packed House of Commons last week what the government proposed to do about defense. Said Attlee: “We, in common with our Allies of the North Atlantic pact, were approached by the United States . . . and we were asked what we could undertake. Our reply was that it was physically possible for us to undertake a program which would . . . increase defense expenditure to a total of £3,600,000,000 [$10,080,000,000] in the next three years.”

Peering through gold-rimmed spectacles, Attlee faced a tense, silent House, was interrupted only once when a flight of jet airplanes flew overhead. Attlee’s plan:

Air Force: 1) An increase of 18,000 men; 2) stepped-up production of jet fighters and a new light, fast bomber; 3) enlargement of fighter command and occupation air forces; 4) a new training program, with Canada’s aid.

Navy: 1) An increase of 4,000 men; 2) “substantial” new construction and modernization.

Army: 1) An increase of 55,000 men; 2) bring up to full strength the 6½ divisions now overseas; 3) a new division to be sent to Germany (making a total there of 3½ divisions); 4) a new home-based strategic reserve of one armored division, one infantry division and an infantry brigade.

Manpower will be raised by means of a recent increase of the military service (draft) period from 18 months to two years, and by regular army enlistments, spurred by last fortnight’s 75% increase in soldier’s pay. By the end of 1951, Attlee hopes that Britain will have ten regular divisions, twelve territorial (reserve) divisions.

The program will not be accomplished without a severe blow to Britain’s newly recovered trade. There will be no new automobiles for the British market. The cost of living will probably rise. Said Attlee: “Sacrifices now can prevent greater sacrifices in the future . . .”

Opposition Leader Winston Churchill gave his support. Churchill criticized the government’s tardiness in sending troops to Korea and its negligence in allowing Russia to buy British machine tools. Later, under further pressure from Churchill, the government announced a ban on export to Iron Curtain countries of any machine tools the West may need for defense. Churchill also attacked Attlee for not making a clear statement of policy on the rearming of Germany. To close the “hideous gap” between Russian and Western military forces, Churchill demanded the creation of a European defense army, to include ten German and ten U.S. divisions.

The House of Commons debated the defense question for three days. Result: acceptance of the Attlee proposals, as the best that Britain could do short of the adoption, of a full-scale war economy. It was, said Churchill, “a belated conversion to the obvious.”