Evening star., 1932-11-28

Won Scnleicher has been called. Is the
nahs aahSt Of sas Rey 81 St ss0ras H os &.
other great European powers. without
reeognition Of this equality. Germany
general disarmament.
BY GEN. KURT Won sCHLEICHER,
German Minister of Defense.
Special Dispatch to The Star.
BERLIN, November 2S.-The individ-
ual's right to self-defense is one Of the
oldest and most widely recognized prin-
ciples Of justice, without which an or
dered social existence Is impossible.
1t is a characteristic of the slave that
he is deprived of this right, and must
tolerate injustice without resistance
The concept of the sovereign state
embodies the will and power to exercise
the right Of self-defense in case Of any
outside aggression.
This principle must be recognized
even by organizations that stand above
nationality. The Kellogg pact con-
dems war of aggression, but does not
restrict the right and duty of national
defense.
1t is the object of the League OF
Nations Disarmament Conference To
eliminate the disparity among the ma
tions in the matter of armaments by
reducing ornaments in accordance with
universally binding provisions to the
level necessary to insure the security
of the countries concerned. Thus even
the League of Nations recognizes the
principle of national defense as the
corner stone of the sovereign state.
And the defensive principle has no
other object than the mental, physical
and material preparation of the people
for the duty of national defense.
"Best Safeguard Of Peace"
The defensive principle has nothing
to do either with ''militarism" or with
schemes of aggression. On the con-
trary, 1t is the best safeguard of peace,
for the abuse Of military power must
cease when the defensive strength OF
the state makes war too risky for the
aggressor.
It has been one of the gravest para
doxes in the German state since 1913
that, whereas it has endeavored to pro-
cure the greatest possible measure OF
freedom internally, it has lacked the
means to defend that freedom exter-
nally.
Just as paradoxical is that attitude Of
German mentality which affirms the
right of self-defense in party disputes
and class warfare. but-as far as con-
siderable section of the nation Is con-
cerned- either disputes this right ex-
ternally or fails to demand 1t with sum-
cient determination.
It is the tragedy of the German SOL
dier,s profession that, while 1t is his
duty to defend the frontiers OF his
country. he has been deprived by the
Versailles treaty of the means of full
filling that task.
It is The mission Of the German de-
fensive principle to seek the restoration
of ,Germany's equality in the means OF
defense, to unite our people IN this duty
of national defense, and to snake on
the one-sided and dishonoring restr1c-
tions on our defensive strength.
. Reiehswehr Incapable Of War.
I do not emphasize here the German
nations will 4, peace and Germany
remuneration at Locarno OF the inten-
ton to -avenge by means OF war the IN
Justice done to her by the versauies
treaty. Nor Is 1t necessary 1or me eo
affirm the very obvious truth that tine
Reichswehr would be incapable OF Q
war of aggression.
nut the remarkable admission OF the
French representatives at the Ddsarma-
ment Conference that the Versailles
treaty has deprived Germany not only
of all aggressive weapons, but also OF
certain important defensive weapons
throws a lurid light on Germanys un-
tenable position in the matter OF ma
tional defense.
How is a defense force without air
planes, tanks, heavy artillery, man