Evening star., 1932-12-13
Germany Gains Her Point.

Germany's internal politics during the
calendar year about to close has been
a crescendo Of mess and chaos, and still
is, but In the realm of foreign rela-
tions two achievements have been ac-
complished which the Germans are en-
titled to regard as first-class triumphs
In July, at Lausanne, reparations were
virtually wiped out. Last Sunday in
Geneva, Germany's claims to arms
equality were finally conceded Thus,
within period of six months, the
Reich has knocked the props frcm
under two Of the most obnoxious con-
ditions imposed upon it by the peace
treaty of 1919. There is only one more
Versailles field left for Germany to
conquer-the obliteration OF the hated
war guilt" clause-unless the recovery
of the lost colonies, for which an agita-
ton has long been carried on, is goal
the Reich still sets itself.
Concession of arms equality to Ger
many is the price the Geneva disarm-
ament powers had to pay to keep her
in the conference. 1t is not too high
price. Any scheme of European dis
armament to which the Reich was not
a willing party would have been not
only ludicrous, but worthless The
same philosophy which inspired states
men at Lausanne to adopt the German
thesis that the Reich was at the end
OF its reparations rope and that further
insistence upon payment would be
worse than futile seems to have
produced this weeks Geneva agreement
of arms equality. It is consummation
that does credit to European states
manship and augurs we'll fer a course
of wisdom in other directions making
fer peace.
The four-point declaration signed by
Great Britain, France. Italy, Germany
and the United States reaches much
further than Article v of the Versailles
treaty, which condemned Germany to
an indefinite status of military and
naval inferiority. It does more, in
other words, than merely lift the
Reich out Of that 'inferiority complex"
1t is, in fact, intended to chart the
future course OF the Geneva Disarma-
ment Conference and point that hith-
erto nebulous and Intellectual debating
society in practical direction. The
five-power declaration Of December II
states it to be one Of the conferences
guiding principles to grant Germany
equality Of rights in system provid-
ing security for every one. That prin-
ciple laid down, Germany signifies her
willingness to re-enter the conference
Great Britain, France, Germany and
Italy proceed to say they are ready to
join in solemn ratification to be made
by all European nations that they in no
circumstances will try to settle any dis
putes by resort to force. That savors
of regilding the Kellogg BRAND lily. but
good intentions never can be too often
repeated, especially by those old sinners
known as great powers" Finally, the
four European governments, plus the
United States, solemnly pledge them
selves to cooperate in working out
without delay convention substantially
reducing arms.
There are, it goes without saying, sew
eral important bridges to be crossed be-
fore all these altruistic and idealistic
promises and covenants can be beaten
into actuality. Germany, for example,
already comments that though she has
been granted theoretical" arms equal
ity i. still remains to be determined
what sort of ''quantitative" equality is
going to be conceded to be within her
newly-acquired rights, consonant with
security for every one" Meantime
step in advance has been taken at
Geneva, the value Of which is inestima-
BILE.