Evening star., 1925-06-06
German Disarmament.

OCl uudn Okodk uAnhhSAS'
A communication has just been sent
20 Berlin by the allied powers OF Eu-
rope calling upon Germany to complete
the disarmament required by the treaty
of Versailles, and declaring that the
Cologne area will not be evacuated by
allied troops until the terms OF the
treaty have been wholly met. Specitc
demands are made upon Germany for
the effective disarmament which the
treaty contemplates. The security po-
lice must be decreased from 100000 to
10000; the national military organiZa-
tion of the police must be abolished
and it's collective military training
ended; the nationwide portable wire
less system of the police force is to be
dismantled: several thousands Of ma
chimes for the making of munitions re-
tanned by private concerns must be
scrapped, and former government fac
tories Of the same character must be
dismantled down to the equipment re-
quired to supply the German troops
permitted by the treaty; recently
opened schools for training staff Off
cers must be closed and gas schools
abolished; ehe a,anufacture of railway
equipment for militarS IIse must be
stopped; cooperation of all Sinds of
aircraft with the army must be forbid
den; only 12-year enlistments in tie
reichswehr will be permitted; civic or
CARNATIONS must be prevented from
occupying themselves with military
matters: guns in forts now on mobile
mountings must be put on permanent
mountings and the portable mounts de-
stroyed.
In the note it is set forth that the
defaults of Germany 'if not properly
rectified would in the aggregate enable
the German government eventually to
reconstruct an army modelled on the
principles of a nation in arms, in dis
regard Of the treaty of Versailles. Each
specific default from the treaty. de-
clare the allied governments, is i'm
portant. as together these defaults be-
come serious menace to peace"
The delivery of this note has greatly
incensed Germany, and has called
forth an unofficial declaration that
full compliance with the requirements
would leave Germany in a state of de-
fenseless helplessness against internal
enemies and would at the same time
through the scrapping of machinery
make it impossible for Germany to
meet the requirements of the Dawes
plan for the payment of reparations.
This cry of helplessness and of finan-
cial injury has been raised before. 1t
is not clearly indicated how the scrap
ping of munition- making machines
will lessen Germany's capacity for in
dustrial production, or how the reduc-
tion of the military forces to the char
acter and size of a national police force
intended solely for the maintenance of
order will expose the country to domes-
tic turmoil and danger.
Naturally the allied note will be re-
sisted by the Berlin government. Presi-
dent Won Hindenburg will face a crisis
early in his administration. Chancellor
Luther will probably be required by
domestic political conditions to assume
an attitude of aggressive defiance
which, however, cannot conceivably be
maintained in face Of the specific ma.
ture of the accusations conveyed in the
allied note, based upon a detailed ex-
emination of German military condi-
tions.
It was the purpose Of the treaty of
Versailles to reduce Germany to a
state of impotence as regards the wag.
ing of aggressive warfare against
other powers. 1t has been the stead
fast endeavor of the German govern
merit ever since the signing of the
treaty to evade its requirements in
that respect. The present note, the
unanimous expression of the judgment
and the determination of the allied
powers, brings the case to an issue.
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