WAR MUNITIONS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21954, 10 November 1934, Page 13

WAR MUNITIONS

PRIVATE MANUFACTURE BRITISH LABOUR VIEW MOVE FOR PROHIBITION DEBATE IN COMMONS By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright British Wireless RUGBY, Nov. 8 A debate on private trading in arms occupied the attention of the House of Commons to-day. The debate was raised on a motion moved by Major C. R. Attlee (Labour —Stepney). The motion was in the following terms:—"That this House endorses the view expressed in the Covenant of the League of Nations that the manufacture of munitions of war by private enterprise is open to grave objection; regrets the absence of any international agreement to deal with this admitted evil; and is of the opinion that Britain should set an example by prohibiting forthwith all private manufacture of and trade in armaments by British nationals, and by making provision for the production by the State of such armaments and munitions of war as are considered necessary." Major Attlee argued that the existence of vested interests in the arms trade tended to frustrate the efforts of the wiser statesmen of the world to create world order. He believed that the right course would be to nationalise all armaments production and to have a nucleus capable of expansion. Peace and War Production The Foreign Secretary, Sir ,)ohn Simon, said the Government had been glad to find time for a debate on this important subject. Outside the House it had often been treated as though it were a simple issue, on which a conclusion could be reached almost automatically by anyone who was not either a fool or a knave.

They had to proceed on the basis that arms were going to be produced by the State. A private armaments firm, on the other hand, had its skilled staff, its organisations and its machinery, and was capable of proceeding rapidly from the level of peace production to tho maximum war production. That was the essence of this arrangement, and only by that means was it possible to bridge the gap which widened at a terrific rate between peace production and demand once war again visited the world. It was a need for producing a certain quantity of armaments, and that side of its business could not, in fact, be maintained without foreign orders. ' If they were to be plunged into the calamity of war, then these armament firms and private shipyards, owing to their previous organisation and their acquired aptitude, would be able to switch over very suddenly almost to unlimited expansion in time of war, which made the conception of a Government monopoly so difficult to apply. Advantage ol Private Enterprise

Whatev.cr might be the lessons which ought to be drawn from the late war, said Sir John, he could not think they ought to put their trust in State factories and wait until they were in a war before anyone else was called upon. The member for Stepney •wished them to set an example, and would like other people to follow it, but if that were done, not only would there be no supplies by their own armament firms, but they would not be able to make any purchases from foreign sources, because one State which was at peace could not provide arms from its own arsenals to a State at war without involving itself in that war.

States which had no internal production of arms would not only be obliged to set up their own factories, but would have to accumulate a great stock, so that they might feel more secure.

The commission which sat in Geneva in 1931 did not reach any conclusion in favour of the abolition of the private manufacture of arms. Britain had the most complete and stringent means of controlling the exports of any country in the world. No consignment of armaments could leave the country without a licence. Horror ol Another War The Government had never subsidised a private firm for the production of arms, said Sir John. It had never allowed diplomatic or consular representatives abroad to act as travellers or canvassers for armament firms. It was Britain that took the initiative in placing an embargo on the exportation of arms to Bolivia and Paraguay, which 28 exporting countries had now undertaken to observe.

The remedy was by international agreement, and that the British Government was doing its utmost to promote. _ , "If we on this Government Bench were not throwing our utmost energy into the cause of peace we should not merely be foolish beyond belief; we should be stark, staring lunatics,' said the Minister. "We know the horror which another war would mean.' 1