The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-04-22
MONDAY. APRIL q. 1895.
THE ANTLGERMAN ALLIANCE

L ASTER passed with immediate European
Il war less probable, but eventual war ap-
parently more certain. The threat is post
poned by the united front against Ger
man militarism, represented in the unani-
nous action Of the League of Nations council
But Hitlers renewed defiance and unwilling
ness to cooperate with the other powers in
new treaties creates a worse situation for the
future
This is the European paradox-a protec-
tive military alliance against Hitler is neces-
sary to preserve peace, but such an armed
peace in the past always has led to war and
probably Will again. The alternative is a new
system Of treaties more just to Germany and
therefore more enduring than the victors
Treaty Of Versailles But the prospect of get
ting Germany back into the family Of nations
on a new treaty basis is less than it was
fortnight ago.
It is neither accurate nor fair to put all
Of the blame on Germany. The Allied powers
over a period Of many years had plenty of
opportunity to reTrite the unjust Versailles
Treaty on a basis of German equality. They
refused And their refusal was chiefly re-
sponsible for the fall of the liberal German
republic The German people did not turn
back to militarism until after France and the
Allies had convinced them that all peaceful
methods of achieving justice had failed SO
the Hitler menace is Of the Allies own making.
After the Allies had thus brought Hitler
70 power they still had belated opportunity
to curb his control. Had they then immedi-
ately recognized Germanys political, economic
and military equality, they could have de-
s.rcyed the Nazi monopoly Of German patriot
ism.
This is not hindsight. This policy OF JUS
tice for Germany has been demanded all along
by peace advocates as the only realistic pre-
paredness against European war. But the
Allied politicians and militarists were too
blind to see it.
OF course. military equality for Germany,
with her larger population and superior in
dustrial and technical resources, could mean
German military supremacy of Europe The
only way to prevent that is to make German
equality conditional on general arms reduc-
ton. From the beginning this has been the
way out for the Allies. But their own mill
tarism, their unwillingness to cut at home, has
stood in the way of European settlement
It is true, as the League council says, that
Germany has no right to arm in defiance of
the treaty without agreement with the other
powers. But it is also true that the Allies had
no right to refuse to disarm themselves in
cynical disregard of the treaty The postwar
disarmament of Germany was justified by the
treaty on the ground that this would enable
the allies to diSarm. Since they did not keep
their part of the treaty written by themselves
1t is absurd for them to assume a holer- than
thou attitude because Germany is not keeping
her part of a treaty which was forced upon
her.
DUT distribution of blame will not solve this
- international problem. Hitler is no less a
menace to world peace because Germany has a
just cause for equality. And the Allies are no
less the immediate guardians of peace because
their stupidity caused the crisis.
Under the circumstances it was necessary
for France, Britain, Italy, Russia and the Little
Entente during the last month to encircle a
mad Germany with steel. But that is not
enough. Germany must be brought back to
sanity by offers of terms of joint disarmament
so fair that the German people will accept
them. even if Hitler does not.
As long as Germany has nothing but her
Versailles slavery to lose, she will fight No
military alliance alone can stop her.