Arizona republican., 1911-04-01
German Opposition to Arbitration

German OppoSitlon 10 HFDifsNoh
 IL was to be expected that the ne- gotiations between the United States and Great Britain and the United States and France for treaties pro yiding for the arbitration a: ali dis putes would emholden the socialists and radicals in the German parlid ment 10 offer resolutions favcring the extension of arbitration and the l:mitation Of armoments And alsb siens from the German govo -nment in the reichstag are coldly discouras- ing to the German enthusiasts.
 Germany has consistently refused to entertain suggestions from any quarter that she enter into agree ments for the limitation of her armed strength or for the arbitration of Her disputes with other powers. En- peror William and his advisers have never lacked in frankness in explain ing their position. As to the hmi- tation of armament. Germany, they say. cannot safely take step in that direction SO long as there is a pCssi bility that France. at the first favo-- able opportunity. will begin war of revenge for the humiliating defeat of 1870 and to recover the lost prov inces of Alsace and Lorraine. Con- sequently. Germany proposes to main tain. ready for instant duty. an army fully equipped and strong enough n crush France at the very outset of another war. Replying to this. the socialists of Germany have suggested that it would be wise on the part of both Germany and France to settle the question of the lost provinces habitants thereof for their determina ton at the polls the question of their anegiance-if they should vote in favor of allegiance to France. the German socialists would return the provinces to France: and if Lorraine and Alsace should vote ,o remain part of the German empire it would, say the socialists put a definite end to French ambitions in that direc- ton. In view of the enormous cost of keeping Germany on a war foot ing. the socialists insist that il Nvould be good business to volun tarily relinquish the conquered prov inces to France But of course the German government will pay no at tention to these utopian suggestions To the point of voluntary loss of territory by nation, even when the territory was. conquered by force and is held in opposition to the will of the inhabitants.
 As to the limitation of her naval strength. Germany points out that the scheme would work to the advantage of Great Britain, because Great Bri- tain insists that her navy must be maintained at the two power stan dard"-that is, strong enough to meet the navy of Germany and of any other power that might combine with Germany.
 Concerning arbitration, the German chancellor merely reiterated the well known views of his government when he said in the reichstag on Thursday. that he accepted the idea of the ar bitration principle but he considered that universal arbitration was i'm possible of accomplishment
 And pessimistic statesmen generally take the German view. Who is to compel nation to stand by its treaty and arbitrate in case it re- fuses?" they ask They of course disregard the powerful influence of public sentiment
 But some of the advocates of arbi traitor have an answer to this ques- ton. They would have an inter national navy. maintained by the great powers. the duty of. which would be to force arbitration upon any recalcitrant power.