that the United States outspent any of its rivals in the worldwide naval arms race.21 Of even greater concern was Britain’s clear intention of matching Germany in the air. At the end of April 1938, sweeping aside the Treasury’s financial concerns and the principle that British industry ought to be permitted to continue with ‘business as usual’, London adopted an ambitious new air programme (Scheme L), which called for the production of 12,000 modern combat aircraft over the next two years.22 Meanwhile, in France the decision was taken both to step up naval construction, enhance the army and
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