TRAFFIC IN ARMS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 56, 7 March 1934, Page 6

TRAFFIC IN ARMS.

The strong denunciation of the world munition industries, particularly that c America, voiced by Senator Borah in tli debate on the Naval Bill, will raise sow hope that the United States may co-operat with the League in an effort to place tli manufacture of munitions under some fori of international control. The question of th private manufacture of arms has been befoi the League since its formation. Article vii of the Covenant says that "the members o the League agree that the manufacture b private enterprise of munitions anil implc ments of war is open to grave objections. A Commission was set up by the League i 1921 to consider how some system of contrc might be instituted, and proposals were pu forward for the prohibition of all export of arms without a special license from th Government of the exporting country. Bu to institute this system it was necessar; to include all the great producing States The United States' attitude was con sidered to be the key to the problem and that Government said that while "i was in cordial sympathy with efforts ti restrict traffic in arms and munitions of war it found itself unable to approve thi provisions of the Convention and to give an; assurance of its ratification." There th question has remained. Since then, however evidence has been brought forward that paii agents of armament firms have sometime; obstructed efforts at disarmament, ane Senator Borah now accuses the Americar industry of spreading war propaganda ii Japan. Since the Shearer case, when a Mr Shearer admitted having received large sums )f money to prevent any effective disarmament resulting from the Naval Conference ii aeneva in 1927, investigations have beer nade, and American opinion seems to have jhanged. If so, the League may yet be abk 0 secure the adhesion of the United States ;o its proposal to forbid the export of arm; !xcept under Government license, and thus 1 great step forward will have been taken o-wards limiting the traffic.