American Efforts to Secure Foreign Business

Horowhenua Chronicle, 10 September 1934, Page 6

American Efforts to Secure Foreign Business

royal family mentioned AT INQUIRY (By Telegraph-Press Assn.-Copyright). Received Sundav. 7 p.m. NEW YORK, Sept. 7. The Washington correspondent of the New York Times says that .'testimony before the Senate Munitions Committee to-day revealed that the American Government about' 1929 adopted a policy of releasing the War Department's patents to private munition-makers in an effort to increase sales abroad. Officials of the Driggs Ordnance and Engineering Company, of New' York, testified that their files revealed a letter from the War Department specifically offering secret patents for threeinch and 105-millimeter anti-aircraft guns if a foreign Government's order for a “sufficient quantity’’ could be produced. They pointed out that improvements in the breech mechanisms cost the Government over 2,000,000 dollars to perfect. If only a few weapons were sold, the buyers could appropriate the improvements for the use of their ow r n manufacturers. It w r as further revealed that an American cruiser had been authorised to demonstrate the efficiency of these guns to Turkish officials at Constantinople as an aid to the Driggs Company in making a sale to that country.

Something of a sensation developed when Senator James Pope (Idaho, Democrat) introduced into the record a telegram purporting to have been sent by the Polish representative of, the Briggs Company. It read: "The King of Great Britain has summoned our Ambassador in London and intervened in the three-inch or 75.50 calibre gun on the new mount. . The chief stands for high pressure, but the great difficulty is to hold the situation. You must hasten summoning the commission to America. I anxiously await your telegram promised for to-day.” A telegram was produced during the testimony of Louis L. Driggs, head of the ordnance company, which was shown to have had the aid of the United States War Department in its effort to sell guns to Poland, Driggs said a contract had not yet been awarded. Driggs was an extremely reluctant witness, several times trying to avoid answering questions, "That is the sort of thing that should not be made public,” he complained bitterly as Senator Pope finished the Warsaw telegram. "What do you make of that reference to King George?” asked Senator Pope. /It is the same sort of gesture that British Royalty has been engaging in lately,” replied witness; "for example, sending the Prince of Wales to South America and making a glorified salesman of him. It is simply that the British Royal Family is interested in getting orders for British business.” "Do you think your agent was tolling the truth when he said the King had intervened?” Senator Pope asked. "Certainly,” Driggs replied. Driggs testified that the Vickers Company was his chief competitor in Polland. He said ho though the chief referred to was the Polish Chief of Ordnance, who favoured the purchase of guns from a United States manufacturer. "What a situation!” exclaimed Senator Arthur Vandenburg (Michigan, Republican)., "We find the United States Government encouraging the private sale of arms to foreign countries and the British King doing the same thing. Doesn’t it make a paradox in' the effort towards disarmament?” "I don’t think so,” Driggs replied, adding: "Only six countries produce munitions and there are 36 to 37 that want to buy. They are going to buy in some place and I think America should got her share of the business.” Another series of documents revealed that Lieutenant-Commander James H. Strong, who was on active duty with the Navy Department in 1932, but who has since resigned, gave the Colombian Consul-General in New York detailed data on how to defend Colombian ports from possible Peruvian attacks.

Prompt Denial by Polish Official (By Telegraph-Press Assn.-Copyright.; Received Sunday, 7 p.m. . LONDON, Sept. 8. The Polish Charge d’Affaires categorically denies the munition inquiry statement and says that no British Royal personage in anywise approached M, Skirmunt, the ex-Polish Ambassador in London, in connection with foreign contracts. The Charge d’Affaires adds: “The suggestion is so ridiculous, that it does' not require further explanation. ”