based on Peace News report
4 group of 31 Swedish social democrat M.Pes have flouted their own party whips and refused to sanction the planned increase of 151in, kroner (nearly £10.5m.) in the 1964-65 defence budget. The increase is in accordance with the current defence agreement between the Govern— ment and the non—socialist opposition parties, which allow for an annual increase of 2.5% for technical development plus an automatic increment to cover the cost of increases for wages and materials.
The 31 social democrat M.P.s say that it is an anomaly for a peaceful country like Sweden to increase its defence expenditure when the major powers are reducing theirs. Their motion opposing the increase will be taken up in the spring session of Parliament. A further motion by 2 small group of pacifist M.P.s urging that Sweden say no to atomic weapons and urging a reduction of the defence budget will n6. be in a much stronger position.