The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1927-09-03
By "X-RAY"

of the crown, and the inhabitants of the country
against gas attacks in time of war;"
By> persistent Questions in the house of commons
Messrs. Amnion and Dunnico succeeded in extract
ing few facts about the governments chemical
warfare activities, but the tongues of that great
pacifist Mr. Ramsay Macdonald and his Labor ex-
ministers tied, for they not only built the five
cruisers, but they also had private policy of 'the
development to its utmost extent of chemical war
fare for offensive and defensive purposes"
LABOR GOVERNMENT ABETs.
The Labor government with its policy of econ,
tinuity" did nothing to warn the workers of the
international capitalist plot to poison them by the
million in the next war; nor did it ratify the Wash
ington treaty prohibiting the of chemical war,
fare; what it did TO increase the grant to Por-
ton, and spend on chemical warfare research
than the preceding capitalist government had done.
The estimates for Portion show rapidly increasing
xpenditure:-1919-20, 10000 lbs; 1920-21, $4,000
lbs.: 1922, $1,000 lbs; 1929, $1,000 bs 1928
"a, 100000 lbs; 1924-25 900 lbs 1885 1872
900 lbs.
The governments secrecy was criticized in the
chemical journals the chemical Trade Journal"
said: IF the government had openly proclaimed their
policy w do not think that any protest would
have been raised The alf-hearted and semi-secre-
tive way in which they have commenced to work. in
approaching the universities and suggesting to them
that they should undertake research into the develop
ment to its utmost extent of chemical warfare for
offensive and defensive purposes under an oath
adverse criticism"
Tn secrecy was also criticized by the poison gas
enthusiasts in the army Captain S. j. NJ Aud said:
"Then there has been the secrecy maintained about
the whole subject This secrecy has had unfortunate
results 1t has caused the subject to be viewed even
in the army in the light of the horrors of 1915,
the only period at which considerable publicity was
given to it in the press. it is bald fact which
can scarcely be questioned that the millions we spend
annually on our armed forces is money wasted I'M
less ample provision is made for thestudv and prac
tice of chemical warfare"
In the House of Commons November 1e20l
Lieut.-Com. Hilton Young asked the prime minister
(Lloyd George: whether war office committee
hadSbe established to promote the development of
chemical warfare, and if whether he will state
the reasons for this in view of the provision of Ar
cle III of the Treaty of Versailles by which the use
OF asphyxiating, poisonous and other gas and all
analogous liquids, materials and devices is prohibited
as we'll as Of materials intended for the manufac-
ture, storage and of the same?" Mr.. Hogge
also asked the prime minister whether the decision
OF the war office to set up committee for the de-
veopment to the utmost extent of both the often
sIve and defensive of chemical warfare was approved
by the cabinet? And if so whether the cabinet de-
cided that the Investigations of the committee were
to be governed by the declaration of the council of
the League of Nations to which the right honorable
gentleman, the president of the council assented
that the council of the league could not egtmize the
use OF poison gas, and must seek means to prevent
its manufacturer"
The prime minister replied
The whole subject of chemical warfare has been
under careful consideration by the cabinet during
the past year. 1t as decided March 4th that the
question should be raised at the League of MAJ
tons. 1t is, / am sure, obvious to the house that
this is a question in which our action must depend
on that OF other nations. 1t realized therefore,
that as other nations have been continuing to de-
veop this method of warfare the safety of our
fighting services would be jeopardized by lack of
similar development in this country, an it was de-
cided on May 18th that pending a pronouncement
on the subject by the league the fighting services
should continue their researches and experiments
The War Office Committee referred to has been
constituted as part of the organization necessary
for the continuation of these studies The whole sub
Ject will, of course have to be reconsidered when
the council of the League of Nations has made its
pronouncement."
Now while Lloyd George was trying to excuse
the governments duplicity and to shelter behind
the League of Nations, the war office had decided
Its plans and was pushing ahead with the work
Although Mr. Churchill avoided all reference IN