ARMS INQUIRY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22071, 29 March 1935, Page 11

ARMS INQUIRY

ROYAL COMMISSION TERMS OF REFERENCE LABOUR PEEK AS CRITIC SERIOUS ALLEGATIONS TALK OF COLLUSION By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received March 28, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, March 27 In the House of Lords to-day Lord Marley (Labour) drew attention to the inquiry being made by the Royal Commission on Traffic in Arms. He suggested that the terms of reference might be wider as in the United States Senate's inquiry. " The terms should include correspondence submitted to America," said Lord Marley, "to see whether we are governed by a National Government or by Sir Zaharoff." Most of the Air Ministry's orders were not competitive, said Lord Marley. Even when tenders were called there was reason to believe there was collusion between firms in close relationship with Vickers. The Admiralty should have investigated. It was significant that officers who had left high positions in the Admiralty and at the War Office had found lucrative appointments with armament firms. Viscount Halifax (Conservative), in replying, said Lord Marley's speech was inopportune as the Commission was specially appointed to enable public opinion to reach a reasoned and informed judgment. The terms of reference were wide enough, but they had been deliberately made different from the American, which had led to a vague, roving, fishing inquiry. It was not the Government's duty to try to teach the commission how to carry out its inquiry. Lord Marley could best assist by reporting special points to the commission. Sir John Eldon Bankes, formerly Lord Justice of Appeal, is chairman of the Itoyal Commission on Traffic in Arms, which was set up on February 18. Other members are Sir Thomas Allen, Dame Rachel Crowdy, Sir Philip Gibbs, Professor Cutteridge, Sir Kenneth Lee and Mr. J. A. Spender. The terms of reference are: "To consider and report upon the practicability and desirability, both from a national and international. point of view, of the adoptioii (1) by the United Kingdom alone and (2) by the United Kingdom in conjunction with other countries of the world, of prohibition of private manufacture and trade in arms and munitions, and the institution of a State monopoly of that manufacture and trade. . "To consider and renort whether there are any steps which can be usefully taken to remove or minimise the kind of objections to which private manufacture is stated in article 8 of the Covenant of the League of Nations to be open. "To examine the present arrangements in force in the United Kingdom relative to the control of the export trade in arms and munitions and to report whether these arrangements require revision, and if so in what directions." , . , The commission was appointed under the usual form of warrant giving it power to call persons beforo it to give evidence, to call for information in writing and to call for and examine documents.

MUNITIONS OF WAR EXPORT OF MATERIALS TEMPORARY FRENCH BAN Times Cable LONDON, March 27 TlieJParis correspondent of the Times says the French Government has approved a decree temporarily prohibiting the export of raw materials for war munitions, also of military or air equipment. The Prime Minister during a debate in the Chamber of Deputies on traffic in arms announced that a bill was being prepared to enable the Government to requisition all supplies of munitions in time of war and to eliminate all private profit. A Socialist moti'on for public control over the arum trade was rejected by 374 votes to 210.