PARTIAL ACCEPTANCE

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 108, 8 May 1937, Page 9

PARTIAL ACCEPTANCE

REPORT ON ARMS

MANUFACTURE AND TRADING

(Brltlsh Official Wireless.)

EUGBY, May 6.

In a White Paper issued today the Government stated the decisions it has reached after consideration of the re-

port of the Royal Commission on the private manufacture of and trading ml arms.

The commission stated that it was unable to recommend, while present conditions obtain,, that the promotion' of a general State monopoly should be accepted as part of the international policy of the country. The Government accepts that conclusion.

The Government' also. accepts • the conclusion of the commission against .the proposal for the prohibition of private manufacture in the United Kingdom arid the substitution of a State monopoly.

In the international control of the trade in arms the Government is unable to accept suggestions in the commission's report for the modification of British amendments to the United States draft proposals submitted to the Disarmament Conference in November, 1934. The White Paper indicates that, while it is the main object of the Government's foreign policy to improve the international situation so that progress may be made with the international limitation and reduction of armaments, in the present unfavourable conditions the' Government doubts the wisdom of pressing forward with isolated aspects of the problem. Nevertheless, it considers that the question of publicity for national defence expenditure might be examined further and it is prepared to accept the draft convention referred to if the other principal Powers do likewise. . ADEQUATE PROFIT CONTROL. The commission's proposals for a Ministry of Supply are rejected.'-The Government is also satisfied that its procedure for the control of profits in arms manufacture is adequate, and it has decided against the adoption cf the particular recommendations of the commission. Finally, the recommendations bf the commission as to export control are only partially accepted by the Government, which is unable to agree that the existing administration of the export licensing system, which the commission characterised as negative, should be more positive. The Government, however, proposes to discontinue the issue of open general licences in respect of military aircraft arid bayonets, swords, and lances.

It does not consider it necessary ito insist upon the complete cessation of the trade in -surplus arms. The exists ing practice of export control, the White' Paper emphasises, goes a very long way towards realising the commission's desires.