The New York herald., 1921-09-19

Special Cable to TuE Nrw YORK IrrnNp.
Copyright, 1891. by Tue Nuw YORK IfEaup
New York Herald Bureau,
berlin. sept. IL.
There Is an opinion favoring smalle,
arfnaments abroad i'm the world which
j hope the diplcmatists attending The
Washington conference on the linita.
tion of armaments win recognize
Admiral Reinhold Won Scheer, formerl,
Commander OF the German High Seas
Fleet and German commander at the
battle of SkagcrracS. told THE New
1osK HERALD correspondent here
to-day.
Admiral Won Scheer docs not believe
the ideal of universal peace ever will
be entirely realizable in a sinful world
but he thinks that reduction of
armies and armaments would greatly
diminish the temptation to fight.
THE general distaste for any more
war and the beginnings OF better
world order characterized the express
sions at Versailles" said the Admiral.
"The treaty clauses dealing with the
rights OF people and the League of Ma
tions are terhencies which the Powers
should encourage. with a view 20 re-
establishing tolerant and neighborly re-
latlons again"
Admiral Won Scheer during a long
conversation took the position of g
democraucally inclined officer who
recognized past failures and the needs
of Germany to-day, and sought TO find
2. better basis Of understanding. He
outlined his opinion on the best naval
and military policy and defined spe-
officially the American problem.
EFFECTIVE disarmament" he said.
should receive general. ard not one
sided. application. The problem is al
ready settled for Germany by the allied
demands. Bat the Poles and the French
still keep enormous armies This, COM
bned with the occupation by black
troops and the accompanying heavy
costs, Is a burden which Germany can
not carry indefinitely
I'VE aren't seeking rearmament. but
we ask that the neghboring nations
apply to themselves the principles they
forced on US. The best system is not
n professional army but a limited police
and militia. which Germany should
have III the numbers our population and
position denand. Such a system would
offer necessary protection without the
drawbacks OF large professional army
which IS always seeking wars
Condenlning large armies. Admiral
Won Scheer disapproved the project by
which German military circles are hop
ing to rcestablish the German army
through Intervention with tho Allies in
Russia.
,''lt j. an unrealizabie and a mistaken
policy he declared. 1T is unrealiza.
bic. because the French and German mu.
tual distrust would not admit of this
collaboration. Much less would the
Americans and British be willing to sac
lifce lives and wealth in this distan,
adventure.
The theory OF military conquest is
the commonest and shows a mistaken
understanding Of the position OF the Boil
sheviki in Russia. An invasion would
reawaken the Russian nationaiism and
provoke resistance. Germany. in un-
Gertaking such an enterprise would re-
neat the old mistakes. It is better
through trade and industry 10 seek the
friendship OF nelghboring peoples than
70 continue hostilities"
Admiral von Scheer summarized as a
basis for military disarmament recogni-
fion OF tie rights Of peoples with regard
70 reasonable geographical and economic
unity and the reDls scement OF large
standing armies il a short time by linn
tied militia.
The maritime problem. in his opinion.