Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1912-10-17
Earl Kautsky Reviews Subject Of Labor
and European Disarmament

We would be neglecting a duty to
our readers if we failed to print the
following interesting paragraphs on
Disarmament which Comrade Karl
Kautzky wrote in the course Of re-
cent discussion. Kantzky said:
There is strong bourgeois
movement in favor of disarmament
The English as well as the French
government believes they can get
along much better with smaller
burden and that is precisely the rea-
son why the GeGrman government
has no desire to follow suit. Since
the two former powers cannot in
crease the number of men drawn
into the army and navy, they try to
get the better of the contest through
a superior technic as applied in avi-
alton, submarines, dreadnaughts, ETC.,
at least as efficient as their own.
"But that is not all. The. German
government believes that. it may
with impunity increase the burden of
taxation resting upon the working
class. France and England, however,
have both revolutionary traditions,
which weaken both governments, and
which increase the self-consciousnes
of both nations toward their rulers.
1T will not do for the French or the
English government to make their
respective working classes shoulder
| the burden of increased ornaments.
| The capitalist must bear these bur-
dens. But. ipatriotic' as they are ev-
erywhere, the capitalists say, 60 to
a! b. We will not sand for arma-
ments or for government that de-
creases our profits, and if the army
and navy decreases profits we don't
want either"
The ruling class of Germany, how
ever, has been raised to feel moth
| ing but contempt for the working
class. It does not feel bit leary
about increasing the taxation Of the
German nation. The rulers feel that
they can keep on the race in arma-
upon their capitalist class. !.
| "Some of our comrades seem to
think that our modern capitalist gov
ernments increase their ornaments
as a. matter of ( necessity. This is
wrong, for it is the attitude Of Ger
many alone which compels France as
well as England to keep on arming.
''Where this is going to lead is
plain. =
eff Germany does not agree. volun-
!tarily to a. limitation of armament,
the former powers will jointly try to
compel the desired reduction. War is
the only alternative, If voluntary re-
duction in armament is not agreed
upon. st aFeN a.- =, ~ esl'.
"since the German ttitude is the
deciding factor; the German Social
Democracy must naturally play an
Important part in future deeVlop-
ments. ..Ls5- e~ ~e-. s,,4
Sentimental humanitarianism has
nothing at all to do with France or
England's desire for a reduced army
and navy Both of these countries
need to call halt in these insane ex7
penditures.s Germany, on the other
hand, is interested in delaying the
decision at least q dozen of years.
She seeks to maintain peace, but at
fthe same time she increases her arm
ament. y ~ ~ ef.i yc7 IT, -
$50 dangerous is the situation that
the shrewdest diplomacy Will not be
able to prevent war; and Germanys
diplomats are not at all shrewd.f
eat the present time Austria seems
ready to exploitFsthe troubles Of FUR
key This may lead to assWht settle
ment of Italy's differences with Turs
key, in order that they both can
unite and settle sold accounts with
aggressive Austria. The triple alli@
ance would thereby be- openly wiped
out, and Germany would stand isoT
lated. fs13 sgnS-a ~ 49, 2,
s'This would give France and Eng
land the desired chance to put the
| issue squarelylh before the German
government: - 1aata ~
@ssDisarmalhent or war
s.Such am uItimatum may come over
night, whether the German states
mem likelit or not Decisive in such
q case would be the attitude of Rus
STA, for England does not dare to
tackle Germany uhaided, and France
does not feel secure with England
alone as an ally. That's the reason.
why both powers sefinge at the ;eres-
ent time before Russia, and why Ger
many does likewise.
"This Is characteristic in the pres
emit kind of q situation. Russia rot1
ten to the core, rules the fate OF
Europe, in spite Of her demonstrated
weakness. 2.c Etestx Es7tF e
els 1t possible that the German So
eial-D Democracy should have no def
mite foreign policy to otter, in the.
face of this situation? Surely, the
flight against the foreign policy Of