17 JUNE 1938, Page 3

The decision of the Government to purchase 40o aeroplanes from

American manufacturers is fully justified, provided the machines are such as meet immediate needs, and it is hard to see why Lord Austin should criticise it. He admits that British manufacturers cannot at present turn out anything like the numbers required but appears to imply that when they do get into their stride arrears will soon be overtaken. The answer to that is that in the present situation speed in delivery is at least as important as the volume of deliveries, and that for some time to come we are likely to have urgent need both of the 40o American machines, 200 of which are for training purposes only, and all that British factories can turn out. There would have been no complaint here if it had been found practicable to place still larger orders in America.