Evening star., 1932-09-17


the German reparations, certainly did
not justify any apprehension of q new
armed conflict in Europe.
Poland Is Not a Menace.
The German demands for equality In
armaments are responsible for the new
war rumors in Europe. but all things
considered, even in such a case Ger
many has nothing to fear from her
most aggressive neighbor on the sea
Poland. The Polish Navy is eight de-
stroyers strong; considering the pres
ent German naval force they cannot
constitute a menace to Germany.
The decision of the German govern
ment to increase its naval strength, to-
gether with its decision to organize Ger
man youth as trained reserves, is in
terpreted in many quarters in France
that Germany Is getting ready to de-
molish the Versailles treaty by the force
of arms, If necessary. Naturally, no
body expects Germany, the French say
to do this within few months. 1t will
take years before that country can or
ganiZe its national forces to compete
with the highly efficient French war
machinery. But by the present mani
festations the German government in
,reases the suspicion of the French gen.
eral staff and Of those who think like
the general staff that Germany is pre-
pairing for war.
Consequently, the task of the French
government. regardless as to how well
disposed it may be toward Germany, is
rendered extremely difficult.
Revision to Be Discussed.
The French government, when ap-
preached for the first time by the Ger
man government about the revision of
the military clauses of the Versailles
treaty-that happened this year at Lau-
sanne-indicated its willingness to dis
cuss this question in the near future.
Premier Ramsay Macdonald went a
step further and assured Baron Won
Neurath, the German foreign secretary,
that Britain sympathizes with Germany
on that point and that he will see that
this matter is opened up some time in
the course of this Fall.
But both Herriot ard Macdonald
thought that Germany would 60 slowly
on this question and would try and re-
wise at most some of the more irksome
clauses of the Versailles treaty by COM
mon agreement at the general dis
armament conference with all the other
nations, including the United States.
1t was understood by most Of the
foreign Offices and the State Depart
ment in Washington that all that Ger
many wanted was the right to have
some tanks and military airplanes to
satisfy the demands of the army, which
felt Inundated when it had to use
cardboard tanks in the maneuvers. 1t
was also believed that Germany would
demand and obtain the right to in
crease her Notifications on her Eastern
frontiers, possibly. reduce the term Of
enlistment of the Reichswehr troops.
and be ellowed to organize certain Of
her most vociferous athletic societies,
such as the Stahlhelm, in kind OF a
reserve corps controlled by the govern
ment, in order to facilitate the task
of the cabinet to maintain order In
Germany.
Considered Reasonable.
These were considered reasonable de-
mands, and both Macdonald and Her
riot thought that they could be grant
ed Germany without much trouble.
Furthermore, it was thought that a
reduction of the French military effec-
tives would satisfy the German peo-
pie and gradually. by Germany being
permitted to increase slightly her arn1a-
ments. and France by reducing hers, a
solution to the European disarmament
question would eventually be reached.
The attitude of the German govern
ment. which appears to have decided to
proceed with its military reorganiza-
ton plans without awaiting for the
other signatories of the Versailles treaty
to give their consent. appears to have
upset all the carefully thought out
plans Of the British and the French
and has sounded the death knell of the
Disarmament Conference.