MATERIALS FOR ARMS

Greymouth Evening Star, 6 September 1939, Page 3

MATERIALS FOR ARMS

GERMANY DRAWS ON EMPIRE. LONDON, July 8. Figures designed to show how Britain, France, Belgium and their colonies are supplying Germany with raw materials for arms were quoted yesterday by Mr. Ebby Edwards, the general secretary, at the conclusion of the conference of the Mineworkers’ Federation of Great Britain at Swansea. He spoke during the discussion oi a resolution, which was carried, instructing the executive to demand reduced working hours for all mine workers without reduction in wages, the maximum working day being of seven hours underground, and a total of 46 per week. Mr. Edwards said that he did not think that the executive would be able! to implement the resolution in the l coming year because of the present' international situation. The hours of German coal-miners were, in some cases, nearly 10 a day. “We have sent a very line message to the German jvprkers,” he added, “but there is something more than messages required in any internation al conflict that may take place.” Germany’s soft coal consumption in 1938, he added, was more than 75 per cent, greater than in 1932, and hard coal consumption for the iron industry was three times greater. ■ Germany’s, coal imports from Great Britain in January, 1938, were 288,833 tons, but in January last they were 350,697 tons. Imports of coke from Britain rose from 8,234 tons in January. 1938, to 12.972 tons in January, 1939. “These figures,” he declared, “are significant. We are increasing our supplies of the raw materials to make armaments for what would be, if a con-| flict took place, the opponents of our own people.” It was said that Germany prepared for the last war while we did not. Germany’s imports in 1938 were 50 per cent, higher than for 1913. In copper' ore alone, in 1938, it was 25 times greater than in 1913; iron ore was 70 per cent, higher. Iron, pig and scrap, was'2so per cent, higher; mineral iron was four times greater and rubber three and a half times greater. A closer examination showed that the British Empire, France, Belgium,! and their colonies had given Germany

45 per cent, of her supplies of iron ore and iron ore containing manganese. In 1933, at the start of the Nazi regime, Germany’s total imports were 4,571,000 metric tons, and in 1938 they were 10,553,000 metric tons from the British Empire, France, Belgium, and their colonies. Germany’s imports of pig iron and scrap in 1938 were nearly four times greater than in 1936. The increase was 1.15 million tons, and over a million tons of that came from thQ British Empire and America, which could be termed the peaceful Powers. | “These are the facts that are going Ho affect the situation more than any j question of fraternal greetings,” said ' Mr. Edwards.