Evening star., 1932-09-12
German Military Demands
Shake World Arms Position

notified semi-offcially that Germany
viii l withdraw from the disarmament
conference of the League If her rights
to equality of arms is not acknowl-
edged" the Salt Lake City Deseret News
feels that "logic seems to be with the
German point of view" According 10
the Newark Evening News: The alnes
have failed to make progress towaru
disarmament, because they nave not
been under sufficient pressure 10 COM
pel them to get together. They nave
nibbied a little here and there at their
military establishments, enough to save
their several conferences from complete
failure: but they have made little real
progress According to the Topeka
Daily Capital, "the victors In the World
war have fooled their approach to dis
armament. in conformity with their
pledges. with the result that today Ger
MANY rightly concludes that II equaity
is to be effected, it cannot be by reduc-
ton by its rival powers, but must be ny
restoring German armament to It's 1or-
mer relative status" The birmingham
Age-Herald declares: III any real prog
ress Is to be made toward reduction
in armaments it will have to be upon
the basis of equality among the nations
not equality Of strength, be 1t under
u,
powers will be on the same footing OF
freedom from harsh hand1caps INTENDED
to keep the disadvantaged countries In
submission"
''It Is likely true that the injustice Of
the peace terms promoted by allied
statesmen at Versailles, who distributed
the spoils of the World War to them
selves, including German colonial pos
sessions of an area larger than the Con.
tinental United States, laid the founda-
ton for Germany's present reversion to
the idea of force and its trappings,"
says the Akron Beacon Journal. II So
those who imposed the treaty must
abide whatever hazard this restoration
Of German military power may bring"
Commenting on the fact that the allied
coutries are spending more on arma-
ment than before the World War;" the
Portland Oregon Journal asks: rs 1t
remarkable, in the light Of the agree
ment of 13 years ago and the failure OF
the powers to reduce their ornaments
in accordance with it, that Germany
should now ask that she be allowed to
build I'D her war machine?" In fact,
the Port Huron Times Herald sees In
the request "a challenge to Europe to
start actual disarmament II 1t would
keep European militArism from raising
its ugly head again" For this reason
''the German demand may, In the end,
prove helpful" suggests the Omaha
World Herald, because 1T may force
the issue. Of q general reduction In
armies, an issue that European states
men are fond Of discussing, but slow to
act upon" EFG
Looking at 1t from the economic side.
the Lincoln State Journal rather won
ders "how q country too poor to pay
reparations can afford such an expense
as the new military program entails"
The same query is in the mind of the
Buffalo Evening News, when it says:
"It would be poor exhibit for a Ger
many requiring moratorium on debts
and with population appallingly over
taxed and poverty-stricken, to demon
strate that She stin has plenty of money
to spend on tanks, Big Berthss, gas and
zeppelins." The oakland Tribune Is
hopeful that "a burdened world may
some day realize there are better places
for the billions which are put into war
making devices, and, with an agreement
which will establish: on greatly reduced
schedules. q balance comparable to that
which obtains nov. win order TIE
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