Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-10-16
Committee Sitting in Frequent London Sessions
Speaks Last Word in Purchasing Supplies in
America Russia Caused D emOr allied Elk
change by Disregard ng British Decree

New York, Oct 15-Of the millions
of dollars spent daily in this country
by the Allies for war supplies not
dollar, it was learned authoritatively
today, can be spent without first OBJ
tanning the official sanction of the
British government.
| This sanction is obtained from a
committee sitting in London and hold
ing frequent sessions. Although the
committee has been in operation for
many months, it's existence has not
heretofore been generally known out
side of governmental circles. Only
once, so far as can be learned-and
then in the case of Russia has the
mandate of, this body been disregard
led. -s, a+
k.., AJAX The Committee
The personnel of this committee has
never been published and probably
never will be. 1t consists, however,
| OF representatives Of each Of the al
lied nations from Great Britain to
Montenegro controls absolutely the
! purchase of all war supplies in what
ever section of the world they may
be bought, acts as a financial check
and supervisor over all the war chests
of all the Allies and seeks to eliminate
positively competitive bidding on the
rart of the Allies for war supplies in
the few open markets Of the world,
first of all, in the United States.
Over purchases made in home mar
l., H., tho l..
mttee holds no supervision.
The committee is designated by a
French title, the English translation
of which is 1.-The international War
Supplies Committee"
/ Avoid Competition
Under its guidance, Great Britain,
France, Russia and Italy in seeking
munitions Of war in the United
States and other supplies, refrain
from competition Unfolding.
Instead of coming into the Ameri-
can market when supplies are needed
and waging a financial contest for SUI
premacy in obtaining the supplies. the
Allies have adopted a system of plac.
ing one big order at time in this
country. When the contract for this
order is signed. the next allied ma
tons needs are taken up and another
contract is placed. This system is
maintained until all the allied nations
purchasing supplies here are cared for.
The committees scope extends to the
purchase not only of ammunition and
firearms. but to all supplies needed fol
allied armies in the field and the allied
Ia nf hosvr
piled in Europe. Grain. flour, clothing
meats. blankets. boots. shoes and the
+ long list of minor articles used by the
allied armies are embraced in the pur'
chases over which jurisdiction is exer'
cised.
! Great Britain as banker for the Allies
dominates this committee. British pur'
chases when convenient are made in this
country without consulting the commit
tee. Only in the most perfunctory wa.
does the committee keep track of tn:
British supplies bought here. Another
department of the government attends tt
this
One of the chief functions of the Brit
ish members of the committee Is to &C
as mouthpiece of tine British treasur!
in alloting to the other allied nations tn
amounts advanced by Great Britain t
them for the purchase of war supple
in this country. Each country is finances
to a certain extent-in the case Of Rus
STA, almost wholly-by Great Britain TIL
British members Of the committee advis
the representatives of other nation
thereon just how much Great Britain
will permit them to spend at stated inter
Was. how much they will be permitted t
contract for in the United States wit
the British guarantee of payment an
how the money shall be spent.
The only time the committees plal
failed of operation was about six month
ago and the effects of the failure hav
not yet been eradicated. This was il
connection with purchases by Russia l.
the United States.
Demoraiized Exchange
Russia had been notified by the British
members Of the committee that sh
might spend certain sum of money TO
war supplies in this country. The sur
was not disclosed but it is believed t
have been between $3oO, 100000 and $500,
100000. Whether the allotment was full
understood by the Russian government.
not known. but what Russia did was {
spend the sum allotted and in additio
make huge commitments in this countr
for further supplies. These commitment
covering many months were said to ru
into the hundreds of millions Of dollars
a sum in excess Of the amount allotte
her by the British government. In max
ing these contracts apparently Russi
\