Evening star., 1934-10-04

record revealing that our makers of
munitions do not refrain from selling
to both sides engaged in war. Some
of them sell to governments which
are trying to put down rebellions, and
at the same time to the rebels who
are seeking to overthrow the govern
ment, al in Cuba.
In this connection, the armament
race between Peru and Colombia offers
q tale most revealing of munition
makers advantage through govern
ment cooperation. Not SO long ago
Peru decided it wanted more
adequate national defense. a desire
that the munitions makers had no
small hand in creating. Peru appealed
to the United States for help in pro-
viding this national defense. and we
sent to Peru a commission of experts
made up of admirals and commanders
of our Navy. AS result Of this CO.
operation. Peru bought some sub
marines from the American Electric
Boat Co. A little later, Peru's neigh
Dor, Colombia, grew fearful about this
show of military strength. Colombia
was sure it needed national defense
against such armament rs Peru had
annexed, and the Colombian officials
appealed to the American Navy for
help in planning national defense
Of its own. Again Uncle Sam graciouSly
responded, and sent naval expert to
that unhappy country to advise with
them. Recommendations were made
for a plan of defense against sub
marines. which recommended tionS again
reverted to the advantage of arma-
ment manufacturers. This story re-
Veals only one of many instances of
the part which governments and
munitions makers play in starting and
then maintaining armament races be-
tween countries.
The committee investigation reveals
the munitions makers to be spending
fortunes in maintaining lobbies to urge
armament programs, and the CORE
spondence of these industries shows
millions of dollars being paid for COM
missions and bribes to public officials
and those who stand close to public
officials
Disregard of Treaties.
The record Of the investigation con-
tains evidence of the effort made by
the munitions industry to block en-
bargoes, make difficult the accomplish
ment of agreement in disarmament
conferences and of their disregard of
treaties. We know now that when our
country issues an embargo against the
shipment of arms to the Chaco. for
example. the American manufacturer
arrangeS that business goes on as usual.
To me the most repulsive of all the
testimony taken during the committee
hearings was that revealing the part
our American military forces take in
demonstrating and helping to sell
American-made munitions to other
countries countries perhaps which
might some day be our foes in war.
Heads of our Army go abroad and, &C
cording to the record, recommend
American-m munitions and i'm
proved methods intended to make
these foreign military forces better
fighting units. Our generals. SO the
record stands, even participate in the
recommending of the height of collars
to be worn by the soldiers of foreign
armies
In 1928 a number of American naval
vessels were equipped with new type
of gun, which, 1t was presumed, was
giving our Navy a great advantage.
The gun was the product of an Ameri-
can concern. sold to the Navy at, a
splendid profit, Of course. But this
gunmaker was having difficulty in SELL
ing the same gun abroad. One day the
good ship Raleigh, one Of the Ameri-
can ships equipped with this new gun,
showed up in Turkish waters. On
board, with the consent Of the Navy,
came the salesman of the American
gun manufacturer and officers of the
Turkish Navy. The guns were demon
strated for the benefit of these for
eign officials and the American manu-
facturer won fine order for like guns
for the Turkish military forces. Shall
we say our Navy is salesman'S sam
pie case?
Profits a Burden.
I am sure that before this investiga-
ton Is finished there is going to be
large appreciation Of the gravity OF
commercial situations which finds our
military patents, secrets, designs and
specifications available to and peddled
all over the world. Surely there must
already be appreciation, as result OF
investigation disclosures, combined
with previously known facts, of the
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