Editing Basil Zaharoff (section)

===Other corrupt business tactics===
Zaharoff's power and influence in Spain lasted until his death in 1936, the year in which the [[Spanish Civil War]] began.

Also, the 1934 United States Senate [[Nye Committee]] Memorandum shows that Zaharoff was paid considerable sums for transactions made between foreign companies and the Spanish Government (for example, he got paid between a 5 and 7% commission for the price of American submarines sold to Spain, throughout all these years).

Although very little could be proved, Zaharoff was viewed as a master of bribery and corruption, but the few incidents that did become public, such as the large bribes received by Japanese Admiral Fuji in the 1914 [[Siemens scandal]], indicated that a lot more was going on behind the scenes. In 1890, the Maxim-Nordenfelt association broke up, and Zaharoff chose to go with Maxim. Using his commissions, Zaharoff bought shares in Maxim's company until he was in a position to tell Maxim that he was no longer an employee, but an equal shareholder.

By 1897, the Maxim company had become important enough that it received a buyout offer from Vickers, one of the then giants of the armaments industry. This involved substantial settlements in both cash and shares for Maxim and Zaharoff. From then until 1911, while Maxim's business enthusiasm waned, Zaharoff's enthusiasm grew, and he expanded his portfolio of Vickers shares. After Maxim's retirement, Zaharoff was appointed to Vickers' board of directors.

The 1900s (decade) was a time for many European armies to rebuild and modernize. Germany and the United Kingdom both sought improved naval capability, and Vickers, with Zaharoff, were willing and able to service both sides. After its [[Russo-Japanese War|disastrous defeat by Japan in 1905]], the Russian Navy also needed new equipment, but Russia was handcuffed by a wave of protectionism that required domestic industry for the rebuilding. Zaharoff's response was to build a huge Russian arms production complex at [[Tsaritsyn]] as a subsidiary of Vickers.

The opening of Russian Tsarist archives after [[World War I]] led to some insights into the tactics of the arms industry. One 1907 letter, in particular, was written from the Paul von Gontard Factory (a secretly-controlled Vickers company in Germany) to a Vickers-associate in [[Paris]] recommending that [[press release]]s be sent out to the French press suggesting that the French improve their military to meet the threat posed by [[German re-armament]]. These French newspaper articles were recorded by the [[Reichstag (Weimar Republic)|Reichstag]], and instigated a vote to increase military spending, all of which worked to the advantage of Zaharoff.