19 JANUARY 1934, Page 19

ARMS AND UNEMPLOYMENT [To the Editor of THE SPECTATOR.T SIR,—There

is a disquieting belief held by persons who should-be well informed that the upward trend in employment in most of the heavy industries referred to in your issue of January 5th, is mainly due to increasing activity in re- armament throughout the world. If this be at all true there is small reason for satisfaction and it would be comforting if we could know from some source with no selfish or political axe to grind, that the belief is without foundation. In any case the continuance of private trading in arms and munitions is a world menace of the gravest kind and the lukewarm attitude of our present Government on the question is any-