New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-08-21


The time was 1899. The place
yas The Hague. The occasion was
ne international conference assem-
lied on the initiative Of the Russian
Ear to consider disarmament. Col
mel Gelinsky, of the Russian delega-
ion, had sketched what might be-
lone. Then rose Won Schwarzhoff,
0 deliver the message Of the Kaiser
which then and there slew the con-
erence so far as disarmament was
oncerned. Said the German:
81 can hardly believe that
among my honorcd colleagues there
IL single one ready to state that his
sovereign, his government, is engaged
In working forsthe inevitable ruin,
the slow but sure humiliation, of his
country. So far as Germany is con-
cerned I am able to completely reas-
sure her friends and to relieve all
we'll meant anxiety.
"The German people is not crushed
under the weight of charges and
taxes-it is not hanging on the brink
Of an abyss; it is not approaching
exhaustion and ruin. Quite the con-
trary; public and private wealth is
increasing, the general welfare and
standard of life are being raised
from one year to another. So far as
compulsory military service is con-
cerned, which is so closely connected
with those questions, the German
does not regard this as a heavy bur-
den, but as sacred and patriotic
duty to which he owes his country's
existence, its prosperity and its
future. AS for me, I have too much
confidence in the wisdom of soyer-
eigns and nations to share fears.
1--WE shall encounter insurmount-
able obstacles-those which may be
called technical in somewhat wider
sense of the term. believe that the
question of electives cannot be re-
garded by itself alone, disconnected
from number of other questions to
which it is quite subordinated. Such
questions, for instance, as the state
Of public instruction. the length o.
time Of active military service, the
number of established regiments, the
electives OF each army unit, the
number and duration Of the drills or
military obligations Of the reserves,
the location Of the different army
corps, the railway system, the num-
Der and situation Of fortified places.
In modern army all Of these belong
together and form the national de-
Tense which each people has organ
lied according to its character, its
history and its traditions, taking into
account It's economical resources, its
geographical situation and duties in
eumbent upon it. believe that it
would be very difficult to substitute
Tor such an eminently national task
IN International convention. 1t would
De Impossible to determine the ex-
TENT and the force Of one single por-
ton Of this complicated mocha
nism."
Has this arrogant militarist ex-
perIenced any change Of opinion?
IS MS confidence as strong in the
wisdom Of sovereigns? Looking at
events, will he now deny Germany
was on the brink OF an abyss and
tnat her reliance on power saved her
from ruin? Will he not admit that
II she mad in 1899 taken the Czar's
aaYiee and had less perfected her
weapons she would have dared to
strike al her neiyhbors?
Germany IL now practically dis
armed. So, helpless, has she any
a'hest fear Of unjust attack? Does
sns not know that if she behaves her.
Sei1 zne IL as safe as Switzerland
one IS eager 70 arm herself again,
oas Is nor this eagerness altogether
o1e 70 her desire To be oncc more ag-
gressiyeg
Inc speech Of Won SchwarxhoR in
'ssS carries much instruction foi
WI. The swashbuckler was wrong
me nation that puts It's sole trust ir
"saVy guns and By long lire q
'eN convinces the world that il
would haze the power. II inclined y
asc II, VI bossin1 the world IL nd
.sfe. Behold paradox, The natior
va II TOO much prepared IL not pre-.