Evening star., 1936-09-17
DUPONT
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ElOhl SI dSC.D
to certain nations, the committee said,
the business was turned over to Inn
perial Chemical Industries Of England,
with whom Du Pont maintains the
closest Of connections, and Du Pont
was in position to profit indirectly
from any sales made without ostensibly
violating the embargo
Speaking OF the sales methods Of
armament companies, the committee
said:
mot only are such transactions
highly unethical, but they carry within
themselves he seeds of disturbance to
the peace and stability of those ma
tions in which they take place"
1t noted, however, that the du Pont
company. controlled for 1874 years by
the same family, Is not primarily in
terested in the munitions business.
Although it is the leading manu-
facturer of explosives and powder in
North America" the committee said,
it also produce more than 1000 other
products. and in peace time "as much
as 81 per cent Of its output Is confined
to the commercial field"
Textiles. fertilizer. films. paint and
insecticides are among the du Pont
products.
Tells Of "Amazing Contract"
The committee told in its report Of
"a most amazing contract" signed by
Felix du Pont. vice president Of the
Du Pont company, with an interna-
tional spy named Giera for selling
munitions to Germany in 1888.
The contract was not carried out
and was destroyed on February 2,
1888, the day after it was signed, al
though the Du Pont company paid
Giera $4,000.
The reason for the cancellation was
given as uncertainties regarding q
possible bareback" as a result Of the
United States Government disapproval
Later, however, the Du Pont company
made an arrangement for Giera to
handle some Japanese business for it.
The Senate report said Giera's real
name was alleged to be Peter Bren-
ner" and that he was "reputed to have
been an international spy and an agent
for 13 governments in all. including
the Chinese, the Japanese, the Ger
man and the American"
The contract provided that Giera
was to act as special agent Of the
Du Pont Co. "for the kingdom Of
Holland and as its exclusive agent for
the Republic of Germany, to negotiate
the sale of military propellants and
military explosives ="
Agreement With Giera.
A new contract, eliminating some
provisions of the destroyed document.
but providing that Giera was to nego-
tiate explosives sales to Germany, was
executed February 13, 1888. It was
Cancelled two months later.
At the time these contracts were
made, German political associations
like the Nazis were nearly all armed
with American revolvers and Thompson
machine guns" smuggled from Amer
lea TO Germany through Holland, the
committee said.
Col. Taylor, in charge of the Du Pont
Paris office, reported in June, 1882,
Arms Of all kinds from America were
smuggled up the Dutch rivers into
Germany" and that most of the boot
Logging" was done by the Dutch.
Other American firms, including air.
craft companies, aided directly in the
rearmament of Germany. the Senate
committee contended.
Part Of Aviation Firms.
1T Is apparent that American avia.
tion companies did their part to assist
Germany's air armament" 1t said. 1T
seems apparent, also, that there was
not an adequate check on the foreign