Evening star., 1932-11-28

power and an ornaments industry to
defend the country's frontiers against
armies which during an ornaments
race OF IL years have been developing
these very weapons of aggression?
How is it possible for nation to feel
secure when its defense force is rigidly
isolated from the people, when 1t is for
military matters, when It's unfortified
and demilitarized frontiers are COM
manded by fortresses bristling with
Arn1amentS and when 1t Is deprived Of
all active means of aerial defense?
Germany's history during the last
IL years provides the answer to these
questions, both from the internal and
external political point of view. AS re-
CARDS the external aspect, from the
moment of the occupation of the
Rhine, followed by the rule for many
years of the Commission of Control
and the incurs ION into the Ruhr, until
the proposed customs union with Aus
tria, we have waged desperate and
unsuccessful struggle Of right against
might.
"Bled White" by Reparations.
Economically, we were bled white by
impossible reparations demands, which
drove the plain man to the conclusion
that the proceeds OF German labor
were passing through the reparations
account into the war chests of the vic
tors to pay for their ornaments.
Internally, we suffered a progressive
undermining of the psychological and
spiritual foundations of the German
state, an undermining of the authority
of the state, desperate attack on the
social system as an Inevitable conse-
quence Of the one-sided limitation Of
the power Of the state through the
military provisions of the Versailles
treaty.
All this has become more pronounced
and particularly evidenced by the VIC
tors disregard of their solemn promise
to disarm and by their piling up of
armaments about Germany's frontiers
Germany must escape from this vi
cious circle If she is to continue to exist.
This is the real significance of the
idea of disarmament as regards Ger
many's future. 1t is also a clear def
milton of the defensive principle as re-
CARDS Germany's requirements The
fog created by decade of futile dis
cussions, legal quibbling and diplomatic
hole-and-corner Vaccinations must be
dispelled.
We must face the truth that right
without might means helplessness and
that might without right is nothing but
tyranny
No less urgent is a change of heart
on the part Of the German people itself
"A readiness to make sacrifices, to sub
init to discipline, to feel a sense of COM
radeship in the service Of the Father
land-the old German virtues-must
again become the guiding principles of
our national life and must not remain
the ideals OF the defense force alone.
But the most important requirement
Is action and example. The state must
become the active representative Of the
defensive principle. The state must be-
come the leader in the education of the
nations youth In the spirit of patriot
ism and physical improvement.
These tasks must not be left to parties
and associations. The state itself must
take them in hand. Nor, In view of the
present condition of the Fatherland
must the state refuse any hand ex-
tended In the service Of this cause.
In this way alone can the state, the
people and the defense force be welded
together in national unity that will
be fitted to face the tasks that con-
front us.
Copyright. 1882. by North American News
paper Alliance. Incl