THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11. 1986.
ARMS DEALER SCOFFS AT
NEW C. IN C.
Vico-Admiral Arthur J. Hepburn, commander of the U.S. Navy scouting force, appointed by President Roosevelt" commander- in-chief of the conibine United Staten fleet. Ile will succeed Admiral Joseph M. Reeves
June.
Australian Air Needs Come First
531
а
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 lake a still larger slice of China, and comparatively shortly while the getting is good."
"Palm greasing," "big business" and "wangie" 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 evidenco when the sitting was resumed. Sir John Eldon Bänkes again prealded.
|"NOT GUIDED BY
PROFIT MOTIVE”
Sir Thomas pointed out that under- the present system the Government was a customer of LCI., but not a very large one. He wondered if the long of the United Kingdom Empire trade to LCL would concern, them.
מח
During the proceedings, Mr. C. S. Robinson, one of the I.C.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.
event of the establishment of a Sir Harry McGowan: We State monopoly was £2,270,000. would not be concerned with the
The Government was practically private lass by nationalisation, their only customer for armaments, but the grene loss to the country, For each of the five years since Mr. J. Rogers, a represimtative | 1930 the company had made a loss, of IC.I., agreed with Sir Thomas Professor Gutteridge said that {t}
that generally speaking it was had been suggested there was some necessary for peace-time orders to thing sinister about the financing) be secured to enable any concern of the company, to be ready for an emergency in time of war.
that
were
WORLD PEACE
OFFERING PRAYERS FOR HARVEST
Japanese homes In Shanghal Taat week holsted national dags and displayed strips of silk, while Japanese schools were closed on the occasion of the Harvest Festival. Shown above at the Shang- hai Shrine, near Hongkew Park, is Mr. N. Tabata, Vice-Consul, ofctating at the prayer-offering ceremony for an abundant harvest this autumn.
deals
business of disposing of surplus wheels that make the rifles. The R.SA. Company had round are very true, and we fully an exclusive agency from the War appreciate that very often oil Office, and his irm acted as agents must be added to your quotations." for the B.S.A.
I
Dame Rachel said: "You Arc There was laughter when the definitely putting into the minds of chairman quoted from a letter, the United States that they had written by Captain Dall, the better buy arms in order to sup- statement that a section of the port the Chinese. That seems to Press suggested that they were me to come very much within the "as devoid of mornis an category of preparation, and
nx Italian organ grinder's monkey." should like you to make some com-
byment on that." Captain Ball, questioned Dame Rachael Crowdy, said a fac- lory at Liege existed for the pur- pose of converting rifles calibre to another.
of
one
Dame Ruchel referred to eviden- ce which was given before the American Arms Inquiry, and particularly correspondence,
passing between the Soley Arma- ment Company and the American Armament Company.
The following passage from a letter by Captain Ball was quoted by Dame Rachael;
Captain Ball:-1 should call it in- telligent anticipation on my part.
Sir Thomas Allen said that whatever other firms had told them it seemed that "palm greasing" was something that. Captain Ball recognised.
**Oh, most certainly!! Captain Ball said. "People are not going to do anything for nothing. "The British Government has refused to allow the export of British rifles, to Abyasinin," he went on. "That is, Government- arms from the surplus "As you are no doubt nware, owned China consumes a vast quantity of stores.. "There is always something sini-small arms per year, and they have "Stocks of British rifica and
Mr.bought large quantities of rifles British guns were left in
from us, mainly Mausers (over various countries after the wur my-100,000 in 1981-32), but have slack-iin Italy, for instance. There Is aller off lately owing to the loss of nothing to prevent these British
at Maneliuria and the shortage of rilles going to Abyasinin
rendy money in the South namely, present moment." Canton and Nanking.
THE LETTER OF
AIR PLAN REJECTION
Sydney, Mar. 3. ESCRIBING the British air Dil service scheme to Later, Mr. Rogers said he didster about an armaments firm," crowded meeting at Mosman last not think it was true men Reincke answered.
He added that there was no night, the Minister for Defence engaged in private trade
Istery about the matter at (Mr. Parkhill), gave several rea-guided by the profit motive..
Particulars
available wore son why the Commonwealth FOREIGN STATES
Somerset House. Government had rejected it.
Professor Gutteridge: One sees 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 nt a heavy loss for some years,
WOULD OBJECT
monopoly."
self-
"In spite of all the dreams of the idenlists, who imagine that homo sapiens is filled with hon our, justice, love and sacrifice, Japan is going to take a still larger slice of China, and comparatively shortly, whfle the getting is good.
When Sir Thomins naked whether. ~Australis wanted to play 11.6.1. had removed or absorbed all part in Empire schemes, he saits rivals. Sir Harry McGowan but considered that internal de- sald: "No, no. We tre
not a velopment should come first.
Later, Sir Harry anid, "Wel think foreign Governments will object to disclosure of the bus. iness we are doing with them,
"To place hereself in a favour- and I do not think it would help of Messrs.
Sheffield, said that his firm's pre-able position. Japan must either the cause of peace at all." Professor Gutteridge (a member dominant interest in munition work buy over the Soviet or night them,
Mr. Parkhill sold that the fea- ture of the scheme was the pro- posal that, commencing in 1937, all] first-class Empire maila should be conveyed by air at the postage rate at present charged for sen transportation.
English Control
Major Clark, managing director Hadfields, Limited,
of the Commission) said that they had always been the manufacture and Japan will do one or the other For the England-Australt had been fold that the export of of armour piercing shells in which before attending to some more of route, it was suggested that the prison-a-to-Italy-had-bean-pro- they had been able to introduce "Sutch-a-move-on-Jaman's-part mails should be carried twice hibited.
weekly in each direction by large flying-boats.
A 10-day schedule was proposed at the inception of the new plan, reducing to seven days when the roulo
was completely equipped and organised for flying by night 'ns well as by day.
The scheme contemplated, as an essential, the pooling of the resources of the Do- minion companles under the control of Imperial Airways, said Mr. Parkhil).
Was 80.
Professor Gutteridge:
Is it acessary to prohibit it if none is being made?-1 only know that we don't make it.
ninortant developments.
ed.
China..
THE LAW
the
at the
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 the shipment of British rifles from any of the other countries. How can they prevent that? Mr. Spender (a member of the
Commission) asked whether Cap-
Sir Harry McGowan said that His firm naked that the informa-would seriously affect U.S. interests in Ball was a salaried servant of ton tiven in their replies to the in China, and we think that U.S. the company and the latter re- Commission should not be publish- would, under the above circum- plied: "No, I am the Soley Arma-
stances, support the Chinese and ment Company." In their works was an Ad-supply them with arms, etc. miralty "bond," entirely the LEAVING "WANGLES" property of the Admiralty. It TO BIG BUSINESS was locked up at night, and the Admiralty had their own staff
Mr. Rogers, in answer to other there questions, remarked that were twenty small arms manufac-| turers to-day competing for bual- ness all over the world, and there was plenty of competition,
there,
Sir Philip Gibbs questioned Mior Clark regarding what ho Sir Harry agreed that no lleence described as the important Hadfield was necessary for the export of armour-piercing shell. raw materials for explosives and Major Clark denied that Had Acids had sold these shells or allow Mr. Parkhill said that in its pro- posisonous gases. sent form the scheme presented Professor Gutterridge: No at-ed people to manufacture them on important problems from a Com-tempt has been made during the licence to eight foreign countries. monwealth point of view.
present crisis to stop exports 7-He also said that to say the shells No.
was secret was a myth, as It was a patent. EFFECT OF BAN ON
"CRIPPLED BY
Ho doclared that the carriage of large loads of first-class mall in- volved costa that might conceiv ably be beyond the capacity of the Australian Treasury.
There were doubts as to the wis- dom of relinquishing the fully- Australian control of the service through Australia and on to Singapore, a Australia was de Anitely interested both commer- cially and strategically In the route to Singapore.
CHLORINE EXPORTS Professor Gutteridge? Can you give mé an Idea. Take chlorine, for example?
LACK OF SUPPORT"
Mr. Spender: Do you say that dealing with all your customers it is necessary
to grease the wheels? No. I don't by any menris. With some of them it is essential; with others it is not.
There is a sort of moral meri- dian? It is a matter of longitude and latitude.
"In such an eventuality, xume- thing might be done with the stocks of rifles here; also M.C.s; and we think it might be very ad- visable to approach the U.S. De partment for Foreign Affairs and the War Department and hand
Sir Philip Gibbs: One sense of them a list of what stocks are over mystery in my mind, which I am here.
sure you will be able to clear up. "You may possibly have other is how you get your stocks of ideas of your own as to how such rifles and other munitions of war.
matter should be handled.
For instance, you have told us that "For example, it might be your Continental trade is na better to bring the stock to the thousand to one. notice only of some 'big bus- Captain Ball: Yes. Wo get our iness' gentlemen, and leave any stocks from the surplus of foreign possible wangles to them, for Governments. they may even see quicker pos- elbilities in such a stuck. "Nothing would surprise us, but
He told Sir Philip that the shells supplied in 1930 to the Japanese the Hadfald not
wero
portance."
A
Sir Philip questioned Captain Mauser Ball regarding the rifles, and asked to what cus- tomers these went,
Captain Ball said the Chinese Government.
of
Sir Harry: Do you suggest Navy that chlorine should not be ex-armour-piercing shells Sir Philip bear in mind that world stocks of ported to any country where it had referred to. might be used for conversion Mr. Geoffrey D. Burton, manag-small arms have sunk very much during the Tast few years, and we into poison gases?
Ing director of the B.S.A. Company certainly think that our stock is Professor Gutteridge: Yes. Limited, Birmingham, told the the only one left of any im- Sir Thomas Allen said that op Sir Harry: If our export of Commissioners that although the
parently large quantities chlorine was stopped it would name of the company was the Bir- From another letter addressed British rifles were stocked on the naturally affect us materially,mingham Small Arms Company, to the Soley Armament Company Continent. Professor Gutteridge: Another Limited, a large part of its acti- by Mr. A. J. Mirnada, on behalf Captain Ball said that for would also necessitate the pre-suggestion has been made, that all vities had always related to pence of the American Armament Cor-instance, the British abandoned paration of a now seaplane route orders received for munitions from time products except during warporation, Dame Rachel quoted: 50.000 rifles in Italy after the war. from Danvin, vin the Gulf of Car-abroad should be made public. I periods,
"Your remarks anent gressing the The Commission adjourned. pentarla and Townsville, to would like to know whether this Prior to the war the proportion, Sydney, and would have an effect would affect your business. Lof Government work WEB very
much greater than to-day,
"Speed Inadequate"
The Introduction of flying-boats
on the development of the Inland Sir Harry McGowan: It would Tand 'plane route to Darwin, which was already partly developed, and was strategically more Important.
The speed of the flying boat proposed was, in the eyes of inany, quite inadequate for 'n trunk service of such impor tance, sald Mr. Parkhill, D.
not be fair to us. It would dha- close to competitors our business.
After Professor Gutteridge had been told of the procedure followed when explosives were being export- ed, he remarked:
The licente is much more effec- tive in your case than in the caso of, perhaps, machine gune, which|
"However," he continued, all can be packed up as pianos and per- the various and conflicting con ambulators".
siderations, including the future Mr. Rogers: Yes.
of aviation In Australia, have boon
carofully studied, and the Com-"THERE'S ALWAYS monwealth Government has in- SOMETHING SINISTER"
timated that It is with great regret Mr. H. A: Roincke, chairman of
Ile asserted that many of the difficulties could be overcome if the Government took over the ILSA. Company's small arms factory and personnel, but he contended that the differende between a factory operated by the Government and a Bimler factory trying to earn profits for shareholders was very definite. The company trying to pay a rotura.on capital invested would have a much greater incentive and urge to ingenuity. He thought that a private company, could be run
that it is viable to recept the pro-William Beardmore and Company, more economically, posals of the British: Government Limited, Parkhead Steel Work,
Soley Arma
It is suggesting, for mature ad-Glasgow, put in a statement in the "ORGAN GRINDER'S justament, an uprovement in the reply to the Commission's question- MONKEY" -JEST service, and a reduction in the nairo surcharge for lusters from: Ls of He sold that the estimated re-Captain Ball, of mited, said that bo Od. 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 on the
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.
An American scientist, after fact that a man weighing more prolonged research Into the thar 10 stone consumes energy causes of obesity, has discovered curl only to one slice of bread that, in 70 per cent of the casca (during an hour's walk of two miles examined, the parents themselves and a half." suffered the same complaint,
-Incidentally," the scientist concludes that exercise doca not reduce fat to the extent
Various reasons, too many to examine, are put forward by the scientist as causes of obesity. But ho does stress the Importance of diot and the consumption of foods" which turn, to energy and net
that most people Imagine. This, he claims, le proved by the merely fat.
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