Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1919-06-23
ARTRLE VIII
Reduction Of Armaments

by article VIII the league member
expressly declare that the maintenane
, Of peace requires the reduction Of ma
uonal armaments to the lowest poin
consistent with national safety ana IN
enforcement BY common action az inte
national obligations. Taking aeeonp
Of the geographical situation and cir
eumstanees of each state the eounei
rs 70 formulate plans for such reduc
tlon for the consideration and actor
II the several governments. The leagu,
members agree to exchange full infor
nation as to the scale Of their arma
ments, their military and naval pro
grams and their warlike industries
After adoption by the several govern
ments Of the plan Of reduction. tbe
limits OF ornaments therein fixed are
not to be exceeded without the con.
eurrenee Of the council. The plans are
to be reconsidered and revised at least
every ten years. The league members
agree that the manufacture by private
enterprise of munitions and implements
OF war is open to grave objections and
the council is to advise how these evils
can be prevented.
This is the first of the four great
steps toward securing permanent peace
IN the league constitution and is as i'm.
portant as any. One Of the great fac.
tors IN ringing on this war and in max.
Ing It what it was was the race in ar
maments between the European nations
Prussia under Bismarck perfected its
establishment by winning
three wars, first against Denmark. see
ondly against Austria and then against
Franee-thus the German empire was
made in l7Sl. From that time on, the
German armament has been increased
and has kept pace with the growth OF
derman desire for world dominion. A
thorough and drastic system of con
seription, military training and reserv.
3, built up the German military estab.
ishment so that ii was a perfect ma.
'hlne and far more formidable than
hat of any other government. Fear of
t prompted every continental nation
lot in alliance with Germany to enlarge ,
Is armament. Germany's allies, Rus.
ria and Italy, joined in the race at
Ter instance. Thus these huge war es.
Adjustments went on increasing from
lecade to decade. After a time, Ger
many acquired naval ambition, and
hen the race began between her and
treat Britain. il
Evils of Militarism
The inevitable result of all of this
nth its intent was war and war came.
ne evils may be easily summarized.
First; Grevious burdens of taxation
'ere imposed upon the peoples of the
countries. Their producing ]
apaeity was seriously impaired by con.
inning three years of the best produc. /,
" part of the lives of their young
len. !
Second; Consciousness of the power $
such a military establishment pro- 7
aced a truenlent and bullying tenden. t
on the part off Germany who kent t
head in the race. The kaiser Haunted s
the world the diplomatic triumphs {
achieved by standing forth in his {
shining armor.N His military ma. =
Iine and his knowledge Of the defects 7
the Russian and French machines led -
m to improve the occasion OF the Aus. :
amsterdam difficulty to seek war be. :.
re the defects of his rivals could be
pphed.- Thus the race Of armament
ought on this war.
THIRD; The growth of these euor. Il
lus armaments under such conditions pi
We made this war the most destraet. p
IN history. Peoples and civilizations al
We been the objects Of attack, not q
mics merely. The killing of noneom- Al
tahts Old men, women and children ~
q the permanent devastation OF enc 4.
country have been features of tho !,
rman campaign and all because the
81 military preparations and the or ~
nizatlon of suitable machinery nat ls
aiiy led to this method Of winning So
ting victory and permanent con. ~
est. tn
This succession Of causes with the tn
uit IS bound to reeur again unless 20
great powers of the world lead ali ST
'iens to suppress such dangerous
npehtion. The end is to be achieved =.
tar as oermany Austria and Turkey -
concerned by compulsory terms Of ~
&c The drastic provisions of the ~
aty Just presented to the Germans y
their signature leave no doubt on th'
! point elt
International Restraint uu
ut how. as to the other nationsf =
5 can they be restrained. No other enc
bod has been or can be suggested q
by an agreement such as is embod. Or'
IN the league. Why should the Unit. dia
states not enter the agreementf It but
the
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