Evening star., 1932-05-08
BY SIR AUSTEN CHAMBERLAIN.

Former Chancellor Of the British Excheouer
and Secretary Of State for Foreign Affairs.
" ONDON.-It would be contrary to
my intention and wearisome to
the 4readers of these articles If
IL they degenerated barren contro-
versy between Dr. Julius Curtius
and me. That can be neither his wish
nor mine, but feel bound to comment
on his recent article in the Blank, not
to perpetuate controversy but in hope
of reaching practical basis for present
cooperation and future progress.
He is good enough to say that
fundamentally his ideas coincide with
mine, and that "in the deepest and
highest sense" he agrees with me, but
he asks me Ito leave aside those things
of the past which separate us and to
avoid points that are bound to call forth
violent reactions, such as the bas1ng
of reparations on the alleged RESPONSE
bility OF the war and on invasions, and
the comparison of Stresemann and
post -Stresemann policy"
Now if DR.. Curtius will look again
at my earlier article he will not flnd
word about responsibility for the war.
That is, not controversy there Is any
use in reviving at present.
Our business Is not to renew the
uuarrels but so to direct our thoughts
and actions that no such ghastly strife
shall be renewed.
I read the same wish in the words
of DR.. Curtius. He at least will not
reprove me for the high esteem in
which / hold the memory of Strese-
mann, and he will hope, forgive me
If I sometimes think that those who
followed Stresemann have not always
risen to the height Of his great concep-
ton.
Seeks Stopping Point.
I have been reading lately the
Thoughts on Germany" of DR.. Richard
Won Kuhlmann, former minister of for
eign affairs for Germany, and they
suggest one observation. If we want
to construct a great building we must
find a solid foundation. If we want to
reconstruct Europe we must find a
foundation sufficiently stable to carry
the new edifice. That can only be
sought in the treaties which are the
basis of our public law and of our re-
spective rights and duties.
True, there are treaties or parts of
treaties which, through obsolescence or
changed conditions, have become inap-
plicable and require modification. Such
are the provisions about reparations,
and we have recognized the fact. We
are prepared to revise the treaty in this
respect, but where Is this revision to
stop?
DR.. Won Kuhlmann is a thoughtful
man and an exceptionally able propa-
gandist: he measures his words with
care and studiously avoids provocative
language; but after reading his imag-
mary conversation 1 am left wondering
what remains of the European settle
ment.
Is there any part of the treaties of
peace by which he is content to abide?
VIII any concession satisfy his country
men, or Is each to be used only as a
/ stepping stone to further demands?
Dr. Won Kuhlmann can admit no graf
itude for the anticipation of the date
fixed for evacuation of the Rhineland,
because the Saar remains occupied as
provided in the treaty; payment of
reparations must cease Germany must
be subject to no restriction Of arma-
ments which is not equally binding on
every other great power; Danzig and
the Polish Corridor must be returned to
her, and then, of course, there are her
former colonies to be restored.
Bulow complains in his memoirs that
his countrymen do not recognize these
truths and never value the advantages
they receive in any compromise, but
think only of those they failed to gain.
The whole history of the relations be-
tween Germany and England from
Salisbury to Grey was poisoned by this
unfortunate characteristic of German
diplomacy.
Some things must be assumed as