KEY MINERALS AND WAR.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 241, 11 October 1934, Page 6

KEY MINERALS AND WAR.

The International Metal Workers' Congress, representing 700,000 metal workers in various parts of the world, commands respect when it turns the attention of its delegates to means of preventing war (savs the "Spectator"). But when it suggests that its organisation should bring pressure to bear on aggressive Governments by refusing to make munitions for them two comments are inevitable. First, such pressure would be totally ineffective against dictatorship, which can control the activities of trade unions. Secondly, it would be imposing too great a burden 011 trade unions, as their leaders in this country have recognised, to make them, and not the nation, the arbiters of right and wrong in international disputes. None the less, their discussion does suggest a line of action which might be pursued by responsible- Governments. There are certain key minerals, such as nickel and tungsten, strictly limited in quantity, which are absolutely essential to a Government prosecuting a great war. This was pointed out by Sir Thomas Holland to the British Association five years ago. What is to prevent Great Britain, which controls the principal sources of supply of nickel and tungsten, and other c>on;rieg intent upon peace, from exercising that vontrol for the prevention of war? It is time the Government investigated this si!pre;i 1 el., important question, and invited the United States and other Governments to co-operate.