THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 1980,
ARMS DEALER SCOFFS AT WORLD PEACE
NEW C. IN C.
Vice Admiral Arthur J. Hepburn, commander of the U.S. Navy acouting force, appointed by President Roosevelt commander- in-chief of the combined United States ficct. He will succeed Admiral Joseph M. Reeves in June,
Australian Air Needs Come First
AIR PLAN REJECTION
NAVAL SHELL MAKERS'
SECRET REPLIES
Frank Admission of "Palm Greasing"
WORLD TRADE IN SECOND- HAND RIFLES
N ARMS DEALER'S CONTEMPTUOUS REMARKS ON WORLD
A PEACE IDEALS WERE QUOTED AT THE RESUMED SESSION
OF THE ROYAL COMMISSION ON ARMS.
Dame Rachel Crowdy read a letter from Captain Ball, of the Soley Armament Co., which said:
"In spite of all the dreams of the idealists, who imagine that homo sapiens is filled with honour, justice, love and self- sacrifice, Japan is going to take a still larger slice of China, and comparatively shortly while the getting is good."
"Palm greasing," "big business and "wangle" were phrases that stood out in the frank admissions and letters of Captain Ball.
Sir Harry McGowan and other representatives of Imperial Chemi- cal Industries, Limited, continued their evidence when the sitting was resumed. Sir John Eklon Bankes again, presided.
"NOT GUIDED BY
PROFIT MOTIVE"
Sir Thomas pointed out that under the present system the Government was a customer of IC.I., but not a very large one. He wondered if the loss of the United Kingdon and Empire trade to I.C.I would concern them.
During the proceedings, Mr. C. S. Robinson, one of the LC,I chemical experts, reveal- ed that the general impression. that mustard gas was easy to
make was all wrong.
If he had the raw materials given to him he would have an extraordinarily difficult Job, despite his 'twenty years' experience in chemistry, to make it.
OFFERING PRAYERS FOR HARVEST
Japanese hopes to Shanghal last week hoisted national flags and displayed atrips of silk, while Japanese schools were closed on the occasion of the Harvest Festival. Shown above at the Shang- hai Shrine, near Hongkow Park, in Mr. N. Tabata, Vice-Consul, officiating at the prayer-offering ceremony for an abundnat harvest this autumn.
business of disposing of surplus rifles. The B.S.A. Company had an exclusive agency from the War Ofee, and his firm acted as agents for the B.S.A.
There was laughter when the chairman quoted from a letter, written by Captain Ball, the statement that a section of the Press suggested that they were
$20
wheels that make the deals round are very true, and we fully appreciate that very often of! must be added to your quotations."
Captain Ball: I should call it in- telligent anticipation on my part.
Dame Rachel said: "You are definitely putting into the rainds of the United States that they had- better buy arms in order to sup port the Chinese. That seems to me to come very much within the as devoid of morals as an category of preparation, and I Italian organ grinder's monkey" should like you to make some com- Captain Ball, questioned by ment on that. Dame Rachael Crowdy, said a fac tory at Liege existed for the pur- poke of converting rifles of calibre to another.
Dame Rachel referred to eviden- the alee which was given before
American Arms Inquiry, and correspondence particularly to passing between the Soley Arma-: ment Company and the American Armament Company.
one
Sir Thomas Allen sald that whatever other firms had told them it seemed that "palm greasing" was something that Captain Ball recognised."
event of the establishment of Sir Harry McGowan: We State monopoly was £2,270,000. - would not be concerned with the
"Oh, most certainly!" Captain The Government was practically
Ball said. "People are not going private loss by nationalisation, their only customer for armaments.
to do anything for nothing. but the great loss to the country. For each of the five years since
"The British Government has Mr. J. Rogers, n representative 1930 the compar y had made a loss.
allow the export of of 1.C.L. sgreed with Sir, Thomas Professor Gutteridge and that it) The fellowlag passage from a refused to
Abyssinia," he that generally speaking it was had been suggested there was some-letter by Captain Ball was quoted British rides to
went on.. "That is, Government- necessary for peace-time orders to thing sinister about the financing by Dame Rachnet:
from the surplus be secured to enable any concern of the company.
"As you are no doubt aware, owned arms Sydney, Mar. 3.
to be ready for an emergency in
China consumes a vast quantity of atocios. ESCRIBING the British air time of war.
"There is always something sini-small arms per year, and they have "Stocks of British rifles and DESservice scheme to a
Later, Mr. Rogers said he
didster about an armaments firm," Mr.hought large quantities of rifles British gun were nien Reinche answered. crowded meeting at Mosman last not think it was true that
Ile added that there was no night, the Minister for Defence engaged in private trade were
stery about the maltor at Particulars (Mr. Parkhill), gave several rea-guiled by the profit motive.
were available sons why the Commonwealth FOREIGN STATES
Somernet House. Government had rejected it.
WOULD OBJECT
When Sir Thomas asked whether Australia wanted to play its 1.C.1. had removed or absorbed all part in Empire schemes, he and its rivals, Sir Harry McGowan but considered that internal de said: "No, no. We are not. A velopment should come first.
Mr. Parkhill said that the fen-monopoly." ture of the scheme was the pro- posal that, commenging in 1937, all first-class Empire malls should be conveyed by hir at the postage rate at present charged for sen transportation.
English Control
the
Later, Sir Horry said, "Wel think foreign Governments will object to disclosure of the bus- iness we are doing with them,
left in the from us, mainly Mausers (over various countries after the war- my-100,000 in 1931-32), but have slack-in Italy, for instance. There is aled off lately owing to the loss of nothing to prevent these British of rilies going to Abyssinia at the at Manchuria and the shortage
ready money in the South namely, present moment." Canton and Nanking.
THE LETTER OF
Professor Gotteridge: One Bees these pictures of armaments- manufacturers creeping about with money bags in their hands. That does not apply to you, does it? You have been carrying: on business at a heavy loss for some years.
Major Clark, managing director! Hadfields, Limited. of Messrs.
"In spite of all the dreams of the idealiais, who Imagine that homo sapiens is filled with hon our, justice, love and self sacrifice, Japan is going to take a still larger slice of China, and comparatively shortly, whlle the getting is good.
"To place hereself in a favour-
THE LAW
Dame Rachel: Your theory is that it is wise to keep within the letter of the law, and the spirit of
the law is as nothing?
•
Captain Ball: The only thing the British Government is con- cerned with is the letter of the law. They cannot prevent and I do not think it would help Shefeld, said that his firm's pre-able position, Japan must either.
the shipment of British rifles the cause of peace at all.”
from any of the other countries. Professor Gutteridge (a member dominent interest in munition work buy over the Soviet og fight then,
How can they prevent that? of the Commission) said that they had always been the manufacture and Japan will do one or the other
Mr. Spender (a member of the For
Commission) asked whether Cap- England-Australia had been told that the export of of armour piercing shells in which before attending to some more of "Such a move on Japan's part! route, it was suggested that the poison gas to Italy had been pro-they had been able to introduce China. mails should be carried twice hibited. weekly in each direction by largo Sir Harry McGowan said that is firm asked that the informn-would seriously affect U.S. interests tain Ball was a salaried servant of tion given in their replies to the in China, and we think-that-U.S. the company and the latter re- flying-boats,
In Professor Gutteridge: it Commission should not be publish- would, under the above circum- plied: "No, I am the Soley Arma-
stances, support the Chinese and ment Company." necessary to prohibit it if none is ed. being made? only know that wel don't make it.
A 10-day schedule was proposed at the inception of the new plan, reducing to seven days when the route was completely equipped and organised for flying by night as well as by day.
-
The scheme contemplated. as an essential, the pooling of the resources of the Do- minion companies under the control of Imperial Airways, said Mr. Parkhill.
Ho declared that the carriage of large loads of first-class mail in- volved costs that might conceiv ably be beyond the capacity of the Australian Treasury.
IR NO.
Mr. Rogers, in answer to other questions, remarked that there were twenty small arms' manufač. turers to-day competing for busi- Hess all over the world, and there was plenty of competition.
EFFECT OF BAN ON
CHLORINE EXPORTS Professor Gutteridge: Can you give me an idea. Take chlorine,
example?
Important developments,
In their works was an Ad-supply them with arms, etc. miralty "bond," entirely the LEAVING "WANGLES" property of the Admiralty.
TO BIG BUSINESS was locked up at night, and the Admiralty had their own staff
there.
Sir Philip
LACK OF SUPPORT"
It
Ile told Sir Philip that the shells supplied In 1930 to the Japanese Sir Harry: Do you suggest | Navy were not the Hadfield that chlorine should not be ex-armour-piercing shells Sir Philip ported to any country where it had referred to. might be used for conversion into poison gases7.
Mr. Spender: Do you say that dealing with all your customers it is necessary to grease the wheels? No. I don't, by any means. With some of them it is essential; with others it is nol.
There is a sort of moral merl-
stocks of
ຄ
Sir Philip questioned Captain Ball regarding the Mauser rifles, and asked to what cus- tomers these went.
"In such an eventuality, some- thing might be done with the stocks of rilles here; also M.C.s; Gibbs questioned and we think it might be very ad- Major Clark regarding what he visable to approach the U.S. De-dian? It is a matter of longitude Sir Harry agreed that no licence described as the important Hadfield partment for Foreign Affairs and and latitude.
the War Department and hand Sir Philip Gibbs: One sanse of was necessary for the export of armour-piercing shell. - raw materials for explosives and Major Clark, denied that Had them a ilst of what stocks are over mystery in my mind, which I am
felda had sold these shells or allow here. Mr. Parkhill said that in its pre-posisonous gases.
Professor Gutterridge: No at-ed people to manufacture them on "You may possibly have other sure you will be able to clear up,
Is how you get your sent form the scheme presented important problems from a Com-tempt has been made during the licence to eight foreign countries. Ideas of your own as to how such rifles and other munitions of war.
present crisis to stop exports? He also said that to say the shell a matter should be handled.
For instance, you have told us that monwealth point of view.
was secret was a myth, as it was a "For example, it might be your Continental trade is ny No.
patent.
better to bring the stock to the thousand to one. notice only of some big bus- Captain Ball: Yes. We get our "CRIPPLED BY
incea gentlemen, and leave 'dny stocks from the surplus of foreign possible wangles to them, for Governments: they may even see quicker pos sibilities in such a stock. "Nothing would surprise us, butį bear in mind that world stocks of small arms have sunk very much) Mr. Geoffrey D. Burton, manag" during the last few years, and we ing director of the B.3.A. Company cortainly think that our stock fa Yes. Professor Gutteridge: Limited, Birmingham, told the the only one left of any im- Sir Harry: If bur export of Commissioners that although the portance."
From another letter addressed chlorine was stopped it would nume of the company was the Bir-. naturally affect us materially. mingham Small Arms Company, to the Soley Armament Company The Introduction of flying-boats Professor Gutteridge: Another Limited, a large part of its acti- by Mr. A. J. Miranda, on behalf would also necessitate the pre-suggestion has been made, that all vities had always related to peace of the American Armament Cor paration of a new seaplane route orders received for munitions from time products except during warporation, Dame Rachel quoted: Your remarks, anent greasing the from Darwin, vin the Gulf of Car-abroad should be made public. I periods. pentaris and
Prior to the war the proportion to would like to know. whether this
of Government work Sydney, and would have an effect would affect your business. on the development of the inland Sir Harry McGowan: It would much greater than to-day. land 'plane route to Darwin, which not be fair to us. It would dis- was already partly developed, and close to competitors our business. After Professor Gutteridge had! was strategically more important.
been told of the procedure followed when explosives were being export- ed, he remarked:
There were doubts as to the wis-for dom of relinquishing the fully- Australian control of the service through Australia and on to Singapore, as Australia was de- finitely interested both commer- cially and strategically in the route to Singapore.
"Speed Inadequate"
Townsville,
The speed of the dying boat proposed was, In the eyes of many, quite inadequate for a trunk service of such impor- tance, sald Mr. Parkhill.
The licence is much more effec- tive in your case than in the case. of, perhaps, machine guns, which
"Howovor," he continued, "all can be packed up as planos and per the various and conflicting con- ambulators
siderations, including the future- Mr. Rogers: Yes,
of aviation in Australia, have been
carefully studied, and the Com-"THERE'S ALWAYS monwealth Government has in-
SOMETHING SINISTER"
timated that it is with great regret Mr. H. A. Reincke, chairman of that it is unable to accept the pro-William Beattimore and Company, posals of the British Government. Limited; Parkhead Steel Work, It is suggesting, for mature ad- Glasgow, put in a statement in the justment, an improvontent in the reply to the Commission's question- service, and a reduction in the naire.
very WAS
He asserted that many of the difficulties could be overcome H the Government took over, the B.SA. Company's small arms factory and personnel, but, he contended that the differende between a factory operated by the Government and a similar factory trying to earn profits for shareholders was very definite. The company trying to pay return on capital Invested would have a much greater incentive and urgo to ingenuity. He thought that a private company could be run more economically. "ORGAN GRINDER'S
**: 'MONKEY" JEST ····
Captain Ball, of the Soloy Arma- Burcharge for letters from la ed He said that the estimated re- ment Company Limited, said that to 6d. The views of the British placement value of plant which he had served in the Air Force. "Government are now awaited.". would be rendered redundant in the After, the war, he took up the
Captain Ball sold the Chinese Government.
Sir Thomas Allen said that, ap
quantities parently large
of British rifles were stocked on the Continent,
Captain Ball said that for instance, the British abandoned 50,000 rifles in Italy after the war.
The Commission adjourned.
LIKE FATHER: LIKE SON?
Fat Is In The Fire Now
.
THE young man who studies the slender form of the daughter, and wonders whether it will ever reach the homely proportions
of the mother, will find no solace in science. Heredity, it is claimed, plays a big part in ultimate obesity. MAN
An American scientist, after fact that a man weighing more into the than 10 stone consumes energy prolonged research causes of obesity, has discovered equal only to one slice of bread that, in 70 per cent. of the cases during an hour's walk of two miles examined, the parents themselves and a half. ye suffered the same complaint.
Incidentally the scientist concludes that exercise does not reduce fat to the extent that most people imagine. This, he claims, is proved by the
reasons, Various reasons, too many to examine, are put forward by the scientist as causes of obesity. But he does stress the Importance of diet and the consumption of foods which turn to energy (and not merely fat.
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