That was the essence of this rangement and only by that means was It possible, having regard to the limited output of their state factories, to bridge the gap, which widened al terrific rate once war again visited the world, between peace production and war demand, Sir John pointed out the immense cost that would be involved in the training and maintenance of staff required for the building and the catipment of state armaments and ships.
It was, he said, the need for sud~ "den and' almost Unlimited expansion time of war which made the con ception of a government monopoly so dificult to apply. Whatever might be the lessons which ought to be drawn from the late war, he could not think they ought to put their im state factories and wait were in a war before anyone else was called upon.
Major Attlee wished them to set fan example and would like other people to follow it. But, if that were Gone, not only would there be no supplies by their own armament firms, but they would be unable to make any purchases from foreign f sources because one state which was at peace could not provide arms from its own arsenal to. a at war without involving itself in that wat States which had no internal production of arms would not only be obliged to set up their own factories, but would ave to accumulate great stocks #0 that they might feel more secure, "This was a new question as, under Article @ of the Covenant, the Commission in' Geneva examined hig very matter in 1931, and they did not reach any conclusion favour of the abolition of private manufacture of arms.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.