The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1940-06-01

Next IN importance 10 this, 10
the manner In which American
firms have leased their patents
TO Germany, thus contributing ma
terially to Germanys present
armed strength. In fact, some
American aviation companies, hav-
Ing leased their patents 10 Ger
many, simultaneously refused TO
permit large-scale use OF the same
patents In the United States.
One illustration n the Pratt
and Whitney company, probably
che most important Alrplane mo-
tor manufacturer In the United
States. Many Of the planes now
raining death and destruction
over France and England were
built directly or indirectly
through the basic patents leased
10 Germany by Pratt and Whit
ney.
Sales 10 Germany began In 1888
(the first year OF Hitler despite
the U. s. treaty OF 1920 with
Germany which stated that ship
ments OF arms and aviation ma.
terials was "a violation Of Its
Gerniany'N treaty obligations 10
the United States"
Secretary Hull protested feebly
against such sales at first, then
settled down 10 condone them, de-
spite vigorous protests by other
other members OF the cabinet. 30
In 1884, Pratt and Whitney sold
$i,445, 900 OF airplane engines 10
Germany. and also licensed their
patents to the Bavarian Motor
Works for 5000 an engine. Then,
rs Hitler began TO rcarm In ear.
nest, the Nazis made deal where.
by they paid $4,000 annually to
Pratt and whitney for their IL
censes rather than paying 5000 for
each engine built. This, the Nazis
explained was because "they did
not want TO reveal the number OF
engines manufactured" presuma-
bly, to France and Great Britain.
Pratt ana whitney actually
gave advice 10 the Naxi govern.
ment a. 10 which type Of en-
CINE was best for military pur-
poses and shortly after Hitler
came into power, reported:
"Their 1.-THE Naxi) situation has
apparently changed and II is OBJ
vlous that they desire engines
for military ~ well rs COM
merclaI purposes"
At this time. 1888 and early
1884. Germany with the help OF
American companies, was building
q fleet Of about $500 planes
just about what the u. s. army
has today.
ENGINE B0TTLENECK
The problem Of bringing Ameri-
can aviation UP 10 Nazi Ger.
many's present strength. boils
down to exactly the same problem
which Germany faced In 1888
airplane motors and their patents.
The chief bottleneck In air
plane manufacture today Is motors.
The manufacture Of wings, fusel-
age, ETC., Is comparatively quick.
But the manufacture Of motors
takes time. Furthermore, there
is not patent pool among air.
plane motor manufacturers. Auto
mobile manufacturers swap their
patents. thus facilitate quicker de-
velopment. But Pratt-Whitney
and the Curtiss company. the
two greatest manufacturers Of
airplane motors. trade patents be-
tween themselves but do not re-
ciprocate with other airplane mo-
tor manufacturers.
This Is where Secretary Of
the Treasury Morgenthau has
Just stepped In and stepped In
hard. He told the big airplane
motor manufacturer that since
they had licensed their patents
20 Germany, Russian and Japan,
they could also afford 10 license
them to the United States gov
eminent.
The War Department already
had told Morgenthau how U. s.
airplane motor manufacturers had
licensed their patents abroad but
not to other American companies.
80 he called In Thurman Arnold,
hardhitting head Of the Justice
penartment,b antitrust division.