Evening star., 1932-09-07
Germany's "Ultimatum." :"


equality cards on the table. face up.
The Berlin government yesterday made
public the contents Of the Reich's now
famous memorandum to the French
government. The Germans insist,
through Baron Konstantin Won Neu-
rath, foreign secretary in the Won
Papen cabinet, that the nations Of the
world accord the Reich equal right to
arm with other states. If the right is
denied, Germany will withdraw from
further international effort at Geneva
to bring about general world disarma-
ment.
While the foreign secretary was dis
closing the text of Germany's demands,
the strong man Of the government, Gen.
Won schleicher, minister Of war. am
plified them Speaking from the war
like background OF the German army
maneuvers in East Prussia, Gen Won
Schleicher thundered that no matter
what the attitude of the other powers
may be, Germany will proceed to work
out her own defense and security sal
vation. She will be governed, he de-
clares. exclusively by what she thinks
she is entitled to, and not by what the
outside world feels she ought to have.
The kernel of the German position
Is contained in this passage from Baron
Won Neurath's note:
We have waited now longer than ten
years for the fulfllment of our claim
The disarmament conference has reached
q point where decision regarding our
equality must be taken, and no power
participating in this conference can
evade clear stand. Nobody can assume
that Germany will put UP any longer
with discrimination which is incom-
patible with the honor OF the German
people and its security.
In a statement accompanying the
equality text, Germany refutes the
charge that she aspires to re-arm to
pre-war standards. That Is, Of course,
a wholly gratuitous assurance, for
Germany's financial condition makes
such a program unthinkable But that
she plans sweeping expansion of the
defensive establishment to which the
Versailles treaty humiliatingly reduced
her is left in no doubt. The Reich de-
mands the right to possess "all catego-
ries of arms not generally forbidden to
other states" These include heavy
artillery, tanks, military aircraft and
all types of warships. Germany also
requires such notifications as are
needed for her peculiar situation,
notably the length of military service
and the formation of q special short
service militia for the maintenance of
order and protection of frontiers-all
within the limits Of her financial re-
sources"
The desired notifications" have
mainly in mind the reduction of the
Versailles twelve-year enlistment period
for the German Army and Notifications.
BY cutting the twelve-year period to six
years, the Germans would automatically
be enabled to train twice as many SOL
diers and correspondingly build up a
strong army reserve. Fortifications are
demanded not only against the French
in the West, but also against Poland
in the East, especially in East Prussia,
on which the Germans insist that the
Poles have aggressive designs.
Europe in general, France primarily,
and eventually the United States, will
have to face the grave issue now for
mally raised by Germany. Militant as
the Reich's language is, there is cause
for satisfaction in its expressed anxiety
or"confidential talks" with the French.
The first point in the memorandum
submitted at Paris records this wish.
The final section Of the document
stresses it.: Germany begs France to
be assured Of the loyal and moderate
character of her intentions" while en-
phasizing that the question of equality
can no longer be left open.
The memorandum concludes with a
suggestion that the peace of Europe will
be threatened if Germany is not ap-
peased. "It would serve to relax the
present tension" the Reich warns, "if
the military discrimination against Ger
many, which the German people feel to
be humiliating, could be eliminated and
thereby help to establish the stable
equilibrium of Europe"
France has the next word. She holds
the key to the undoubtedly delicate
situation which Germany has provoked
The Reich "ultimatum" makes out q
not implausible case. The armed pow
ers will sooner or later have to do some
thing about 1t.