An Arms Traffic Enquiry - Sir John Simon did something
to disarm opposition by admitting in the House of Commons last week that his recent speech on the arms traffic had been " un- fortunate." It would hardly be uncharitable to suggest that he was. considerably aided in that discovery by the universal protests the speech in question had evoked. However, he is now able to announce that the Government will set up an arms inquiry, not so much into existing abuses as into the relative advantages of private manu- facture and State monopoly. On that point it may be observed that official investigations recently made in France could provide important evidence. If it is true that Mr. Eden is to be the Chairman of the inquiry committee, one favourable impression will have been create; at the outset. Meanwhile, in view of the stress laid by various Ministerial speakers on the rigour of the export-licence system at present in force in this country, it is worth observing that Mr. Runciman, in reply to a Parliamentary question on Tuesday stated that in the twelve months ending on October 31st, 415 licences had been issued for the export of war material and only seven refused. It may be, of course, that manu- facturers have been schooled to put in only unexception- able applications, but the disparity between the two figures is rather striking.
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