GERMAN ARSENAL.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 19 November 1924, Page 3

GERMAN ARSENAL.

KRUPP’S ACTIVE IN SPAIN

CONTROL OF BIG WORKS

Tlie Paris newspaper Matin publishes a lengthy' article from its Madrid correspondent, giving details 6f German activity in Spain and suggesting that it is sought to establish a German arsenal in that country.- The ’ eorfespoudeinf mentioned that- Krupps have assumed control of two of the most important factories in, Catalonia —the Vulcano and the Maquiha Terrestre y Tarragona, and of the Trahsmedi'teirranea Navigation Company of Valencia. It is hinted that the engineers of Essen have gone to tile north of Spain in order to constitute a similar group on the basis of an understanding with the workshops of Mieres in the Asturias, the intention being to* form a company jvitfi a capital of 200,0(10,000 pesetas, and to Exploit the licenses' for the manufacture of chemical products ceded to German houses under such conditions that the German consortium would have tlie technical and political direction of an apparently Spanish business. The correspondent suggests that the realisation pf this plan would mean that- these German companies, legally Spanish, would claim a Customs protection which would close the Spanish market to French, English and American metallurgical and chemical products, and he argues that in future it would be with the ‘ Germans that treaties of commerce with Spain would have to be discussed, apd that camouflaged German products would benefit from the commercial agreements between Spain and the South American republics. In short, Germany would have it at its disposal bases at the two extremities of the Franco<-Spauisb frontier, in the Bay of Biscay and the Mediterranean.

A document in the form of a letter is reproduced. It is addressed to a business man established in an important port of Andalusia by a German intermediary. The letter is headed “Richard Beckers, Kriegsmateriel, Berlin, Trunstrasse 55,” and the writer sets forth that he is instructed by a foreign Government to enter into relations for the delivery of cannon and munitions.

In consequence of the Treaty of Versailles, continues the writer, their manufacture and export from Germany is prohibited, and that is why he' addresses himself to Spain. Then follows conditions hearing on the orders, oiie of which is that the person addressed would have to prepare for the manufacture of large quantities later on, and that it would be necessary to establish partial depots in Spain. An assurance is given that the Government, which lias instructed Beckers to enter into relations with the ]>erson addressed would not become an adversary of Spain, and that the orders were not destined to meet the revolutionary aims of a country.

The correspondent adds that it can be supposed without running the ;isk of making a mistake that the Government which has such great need of heavy artillery is the Reich, and he asks if Spain is on the point of becoming a German arsenal.