16 MARCH 1934, Page 20

AIR PARITY [To the Editor of THE SPECTATOR.] SIR,—Germany, we

are told in the article on Air Parity, in your issue of March 9th, demands either from 1,000 to 1,250 military aircraft or an agreement between the Powers for the total abolition of military machines. Here is a heaven- sent opportunity for far-seeing statesmanship on the part of the British Government. To insist whole-heartedly upon and try by every means in heaven and on earth to secure the total abolition of fighting aircraft would be, if a madness (which I deny), at any rate a divine one. Yet one bold statesman possessed of a whole-hearted desire to make Europe think in terms of peace rather than of war might well plump for such a policy. Mr. Baldwin has made speeches about it. Dare he go further with hiS own obviously sincere beliefs ? Have we anywhere in this country a single statesman who will sweep aside the traditionalists and any to whose interests it may be to keep alive the war outlook--

just as President Roosevelt- has swept aside the defeatists of