The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1934-11-19
ASKS RIGID CONTROL
|OF MUNITIONS TRADE,
SURVEY Of PROBLEMS
Manufacturer Says Govern.
ment Monopoly in Wartime
Would Be Inadequate
SEES Preparedness NEED
Declines to Comment on Desir-
ability Of Eliminating In
ternational Deals

Wilmington, Della, Nov. 19.--F-
Elimination Of excessive war profits
in munitions and all other fields Is
well was urged Sunday, upon the SEN
ate munitions investigating commit
tee by Lammot du Pont, president
of E. I. du Pont de Nemours and
company.
THE wisest minds in America
should be enlisted Immediately In
formulating in peace time . sound
policy for abolition Of these extra
ordinary profits" du Pont stated in
. letter to Senator Gerald p. Nye.
chairman Of the investigating COM
mittee.
There still is available for this
study" du Pont said, the experienced
judgment Of the men who successfully
conducted Americas efforts in the
World War;
Financiers, business executives. mill
tary experts and statesmen should
apply their efforts to aiding the gov
eminent in tackling the munitions
problems, he stated.
He recommended q thorough and
detailed study Of the problem by such
agency as congress may determine"
Favors Government Control
Favoring strict government control
over international trade In arms, pre-
ferably by international agreement"
du Pont added:
I'VE suggest legislation permitting
kl@~ 49, v,>ae teAs>a ASSA0 naaanApa,
only after the wise Of orders b. fed.
eral government commission - the
congress may determine, shipments
not to be permitted II objected 70
by the commission"
The requirements Of this control
would include complete report to the
commission Of the amount and de-
scription of goods, their destination,
and complete financial settlement.
No prudent nation can afford to be
unarmed in the world today, he said,
and added that "the vital importance
OF your committees investigations
must appeal to all thoughtful Amer
leans who are familiar with their
country's history"
WI VOAl0l\C1 dtlOllS W1lkOAA 4lC VC4ll.
ed paramount to any satisfactory
national policy on munitions" were
stressed at the beginning Of his sug-
gestions. These are:
Adequate national defense must be
assured.
The maintenance Of peace must be
encouraged and fostered.
"A government monopoly on NUM-
lions manufacture would be made
Quate In war time, and II carried far
enough would cripple national de-
fense," the manufacturer continued.
Testified Before Committee
Du Pont and other officials testi-
fled before the senate committee last
September concerning the companys
activities as large producer of
munitions during the World War. In
statement previous to appearing
before the committee, the company
president pointed out the firm since
the war has produced powder mostly
for sports use and dynamite for In
dustrial and agricultural purposes.
In his letter to Senator Nye, du
Pont pointed out that "since the war
government arsenals, operating at
only one-tenth Of their capacities.
have been supplying about IS per cent
Of army ordnance, private manufac-
turers only five per cent"
But in the event Of q major emer-
gency, experts estimate that govern
ment facilities again would only be
able to furnish about five per cent Of
the ordnance required.
I'VE subscribe to the view that ex-
cess war profits be eliminated"
Du Pont said he declined Ito ven-
ture an opinion" on the desirability
of eliminating international trade in
arms.