“Not Very Profitable”

Manawatu Times, Volume 61, Issue 9, 11 January 1936, Page 7

“Not Very Profitable”

Director of Vickers On Arms Manufacture

RAMIFICATIONS OF FIRM

United Press Association— -By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.

Received Friday, 9 p.m. LONDON, Jan. 9.

Tlie scope of Vickers’ foreign interests was lurther discussed at the Arms Commission. yir Charles Cravcn» a director ox tiic company, said that Vickers entirely' owned a small Spanish company, and also had a minority, share in a larger company, which built and maintained the (Spanish Navy. The company also had an interest in a Japanese company. Replying to Mr Fenner lirockway’s allegation that the Turkish arsenal and docks at the Golden Horn, used against the British and Anzac troops at the Dardanelles, wore maintained by the Vickers-Armstrong Company to the very eve of the war, the secretary of the company, Air J. Bead Young, explained that in 1913 Viekers-Armstrong, then not amalgamated, became technical advisers to the docks and held shares in the company. The arsenal was taken over by the Turkish Government during the war. Viekers-Armstrong resumed their interests after tho war, but they ceased when the company was liquidated in 1922.

Sir Charles Craven told the Commission that his companies after the war received a small sum from a German firm which manufactured Alaxim guns during tho war. He denied that Vickers received anything from Krupps for the use of Vickers' inventions or patents incorporated in German munitions. Dame Hachel Crowdy, a member of the Commission, questioned fcSir Charles Craven about his letters to the president of the American Electric Boat Company in which such phrases occurred: “Geneva or some other fancy Covenant,” and “If Genova or auy other troublesome organisation upsets large submarines,” implying that Sir Charles Craven and probably Vickers were definitely opposed to organisations which might cause a feeling of security in the world.

air Charles Craven replied . that he did not admit that armament firms created wars. Ho did not regard Vickers’ business as a dangerous trade if it were properly managed and controlled by this country. He added: “Arms manufacture is not a very profitable business, taken in all.”