Omaha daily bee., 1922-05-25
Poison Gas
Research Is
Seven Nations Seek lnforma.
ton From United States
on Latest Method Of
Manufacture.
Barred by Arms Treaty
By GRAFTON WILCOX.
Omaha BE. Leased Wire.

Washington. May 24.-Nftions OF
the world. not less than seven OF
them. have sought information from
the United States on the manuiac-
iure OF poison gas since the arms
conference here drafted treaty to
outlaw chemical warfare. lnforma-
lion TO this effect was verified to-
day at the War department.
or the seven nations eager Tor
all possible news oi Developments
relating to poison gas, one. Great
Britain, is a party to the Washington
treaty. The other six have not sub
seribed TO the treaty, it is reported,
and have no intention OF doing so.
Chemical warfare experts OF the
british army, WHO have recently con-
cluded course OF study at the
American army chemical warfare
headquarters at Edgcwood arsenal.
Maryland, it is learned, make no
secret OF the fact that the British
government intends to continue full
speed ahead in its research work in
connection with the use OF gas i'll
warfare, Notwithstanding the treaty
which already has been ratified by
the United States senate.
Continuing Experiments.
France, experts here declare, is
pursuing its experiments with gas
and is especially developing the
technique of the use OF gas in con-
nection with airplanes in anticipa-
ton OF attack from Germany.
The latest development which
causes surprise here is the marked
tendency on the part of the smaller
nations Of Europe to interest them
selves in chemical warfare, i'll the
hope that this science will tend to
equalize their military strength.
With the completion of expert
mcnts on a new high explosive shell,
an important question regarding the
Interpretation of the gas treaty has
come to the foreground. This new
explosive, according to3cxperts, has
all the power of INT, and at
the same time generates Al per cent
OF phosgene gas, one OF the most
deadly of the noxious fumes devel-
oped during the world war. Since
the treaty does not prohibit the use
of high explosive shells. the question
has arisen as to whether the new ex-
plosive is to be barred from civilized
warfare because OF the fact that it
generates a considerable amount OF
gas.
Wants Shells Barred.
Inasmuch as all high explosive
shells generate a certain amount OF
deadly fumes, friends of chemical
warfare assert that all such shells
should be barred if the new explo-
sive to be prohibited. Consideration
: of this problem has broug ht atten-
ton to the fact that since the treaty
prohibits the use of all gases in war
fare, the employment of such HARM
less yapors as hydrogen and helium
in balloons and dirigibles would also
come under the ban if the treaty
were strictly interpreted.
Attention is called to the fact that
though some months have elapsed
since the arms conference, none OF
the principal powers participating
has vet ratified the treaties, with the
exception OF the United States, and
none OF the powers except the
United States has ratified the gas
treaty. Thus, while the United States
has accepted the treaty in good faith
and has reduced the funds available
for the development Of chemical
2 warfare from $2,500,000 to $5OQ,OOO,
other nations, according to army ex-
perts. have made no such reductions
and in many instances have actually
increased their activities to a really
important extent