The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1921-08-15
SAYS U. S. ARMS
BURDEN EQUALS
GERMAN DEBT
Senator Borah Points to
Handicap Upon Al
lied Nations.
TEUTONS RELIEVED
OF HEAVY EXPENSE
May Yet Win Economic
Dominance, Despite
Crushing Defeat.

Senator William 4. botan ppiiSNcs
that Germany, despite her crushing
defeat in the world war. may win
the economic supremacy of the
world, unless the other big nations
curb their enormous expenditures
for ornaments.
In a statement prepared for the
Nations Business, published by the
United States Chamber OF Commerce.
the Idaho Senator declares the
threat of Germany's economic dom
nance is based upon the fact that
the burden of armaments has been
lifted from the backs Of the German
people.
Germany, defeated and disarmed,
Is paying $33,000,o00,000 in repara-
tions for the world war. but the
United States, Senator Borah de-
clares, will pay a greater sum for
armament at her present rate Of ex-
penditures for national defense.
stripped of Arms Burden.
Despite her military defeat Ger
many, by reason of her short
sighted and blundering policies of
the allied and associated powers,
may yet secure economic dominance
of Europe" Senator Borah says.
Defeat has resulted IN Germany
being deprived Of her army and her
navy. The burden of armament has
been forced from the backs of the
German people. They may now de-
vote their energies and their tall
ents to agriculture to industry. to
the arts, TO the things whiAh con-
stitute the real wealth and strength
of a people. Their genius will find
expression not in arms or on the
military field. but in improved ma
chinery and cooperative industrN
Every ounce of effort which they
put forth will be along lines which
produce something, which adds
ewalth to the community,whichm make
for contentment and prosperity TO
the people, which insure greater
physical prowess and a higher brain
power.
Allies still handicapped. =.
'on the other hand. the allied and
associated powers are carrying q
vast burden because of their great
armfes and navies. These burdens
are being increased upon a stu
pendous scale. Hundreds Of thou
sands OF their people are to be en-
gagged in lines which produce moth
ing, add no wealth to the commu-
nifty, make not for health, growth
and happiness, but for display. pa
rade and possibly for destruction
and death. The German people are
compelled to preserve their en-
ergies, for things which count: The
allied and associated powers are
burying their people under intoler-
able taxes. discouraging industry.
sterilizing human energy and breed
ing discomfort through their ever
lasting plans for increased arma-
ments.'
TT is true that Germany has a
vast debt upon her for reparation.
But this debt is no larger and per-
haps not so large than our own ex-
penditures as they will be created
from year to year for armaments.
Cites Expenses for o. s.
Let us take the figures: Germany
Is expected to pay an annuity OF
$500. 900. 900 plus 26 per cent of the
actual value of her exports. As
matters now stand. the German for
eign trade would make this export
charge amount to about $3.50. 900. 600,
which would make her annual pay
ment about s760.000.000. We will
assume. however. that her exports
will increase, so that at the end of
forty years II is estimated that Ger
many will have paid S33, 900. 900. 900.
Look at our expenditures for our
military and naval establishments.
We expended for military and naval
purposes from June 80. 1920. to June
80, 1921, ss25,33Z939. The army and
navy bills just passed VIII, incur an
expenditure of not less than $780,
900 .000-perhaps more. This would
equal in forty years a little over
s33, 900. .000. 600. So we shall pay for
our army and navy at tho present
rate an amount equal to the vast
reparation bill which has been as
scssed agains. Germany.
Millions Spent for Armies.
France has an army of 100000
men. The exact cost for maintain
ing this great army I do not know,
but one can imagine how stupen-
dous II is. The British army ana
navy combined call for an expendi-
ture much larger than our own.
Thus while Germany, has her bill
CONTINUED ON PAGE TWO.