Evening star., 1933-05-17
LOSING WORLD WAR.


tions also are ready.
Germany would dissolve her entire
military establishment and destroy what
little armaments are left If neighboring
countries did likewise. Contrariwise,
Germany must insist at least upon
equality.
Solution in English Plan.
1.-The German government sees in the
English plan (for disarmament pre-
sented at Geneva) a possible starting
point for solution of this question, but
1t must demand that no destruction Of
the existing defense system be imposed
without conceding at least qualitative
equality.
1T must further demand that trans
formation of the present system, which
was not desired by but was forced upon
Germany, shall proceed apace In pro-
portion as other States actually disarm.
Germany is ready to regard five
year transitional period as adequate for
re- establishing her national security, in
the expectation that at the end of this
time Germany will really be on equal
footing with others.
Germany is further ready to re-
nounce instruments Of aggression If dur
ing that time other nations likewise de-
stroy theirs"
Backs MussOlini Plan.
After complimenting Premier Musso-
lini for the four-power peace club"
plan he recently proposed, the chan
cellor turned to Mr.. Roosevelt.
THE American Presidents proposal
places Germany under warm obliga-
tions," he said. Germany Is ready
without reserve to agree to this method
OF relieving the international crisis, for
1t, too. IS OF the opinion that without
solution of the disarmament question
no lasting economic reconstruction is
possible.
1T is ready unselfishly to participate
in this work Of putting in order the DO
Itical and economic conditions Of the
The fears Of France and Poland of
Invasion could be justified only If Ger
many had modern weapons Of aggres-
sion, but 1t Is precisely these that she
lacks, Chancellor Hitler said.
"The only nation having the right to
fear invasion is Germany" he con-
tinued. Germany Is ready at all times
to renounce weapons Of aggression pre-
vided the rest Of the world does like
wise
Germany Is ready to join every
solemn non-aggression pact, for Ger
many is not thinking Of aggression, but
Of security"
Hopes for Peace.
Germany would see In the realiza-
ton OF the high-minded proposal of the
American President, by which the
Into Europe as guarantors Of peace, q
great tranquilization for all who sin
cerely favor peace
We have no more earnest wish than
contributing toward healing the wounds
Of the war and of the Versailles treaty.
Germany desires to proceed along no
other path than that recognized as
justified by the treaties themselves.
Every military act in Europe even
in the event Of complete success, would,
II measured by its sacrifices, stand in
no relation to possible final gain"
Chancellor Defiant.
Chancellor Hitler now grew defiant.
Under no circumstances" he said.
will the German government and the
German people let themselves be COM
PEELED to sign anything that would mean
continuation Of Germany's disqualified
ton. No attempt to threaten can make
any impression.
1T is thinkable that, contrary to all
law and morals, Germany should be
violated, but 1t is unthinkable and out
Of the question that such an act by our
signature could obtain legal sanction.
Every attempt to impose upon Ger
many by majority vote, contrary to the
clear meaning Of the treaties could
only be dictated by the intention to
remove us from the conferences.
1.-THE German people today have
character enough in such cases not to
insist upon forcing their cooperation
upon other nations, but they would
draw the only possible consequences,
though with heavy heart. As a peo-
pie continuously DETAINED, it would be
difficult to continue to belong to the
League of Nations
Germany sees the crisis Of our time.
For years Germany has warned of the
methods which must lead to this politi-
cal and economic result. If these
methods continue, the result cannot be
doubted"
He closed his speech with an asser-
tion that 224, 300 Germans have COM
mitted suicide from despair since the
Treaty Of Versailles was signed.