Evening star., 1935-03-17
Text of Hitler's Plea to "Safeguard World Peace"

tinue to take part in conferences of
that sort or to continue membership
in the League of Nations However,
even after leaving Geneva Germany
still was ready. not only to examine
the other states proposals. but to her
self make practical proposal.
In that connection she identified
herself with the viewpoint which
other states themselves had ex-
pressed; namely, that the creation of
armies with short enlistmentS is not
suited to the purpose of attack. and
is therefore recommendable for peace
full defense Germany was therefore
ready to transform the ReichSwehr
with its long service period into an
army with short enliStmentS. conson-
antly with the wishes of the other
states.
Proposals Were Practical.
Her proposals. made during the
Winter of 1884 were practical and
executable. The fact that they we're
declined, as we'll as the fact that the
Italian and English proposals along
similar lines were finally declined,
justified the conclusion that on the
other side of the contracting parties
there no longer existed any inclina-
ton for a belated and honest fulfill
ment of the disarmament clauses OF
Versailles.
Under these circumstances the
German government saw itself COM
PEELED of its own accord to take those
necessary measures which could in
sure the end of condition Of impo-
tent defenselessneSS Of great people
and Reich, which was as unworthy
as in the last analysis it was menac-
ing. In SO doing it proceeded from
the same premises which Mr.. Baldwin
STANLEY Baldwin, British lord preSi-
dent of the Councin in his last
speech so truthfully expressed:
"A country which is not willing to
adopt the necessary preventive meas
ures for its own defense will never
enjoy any power in this world, either
moral or material"
The government of the present day
German Reich however, desires but
one single moral and material power;
namely, the power to safeguard peace
for the Reich and thereby, really
also, for all Europe.
The government. therefore. con-
tinued to do what it could and what
served the advancement of peace.
Firstly, it proposed long time ago
tho conclusion nf ri c
to all its neighbor states.
Secondly, it has sought for and
found the adjustment laid down in
the treaty with its eastern neighbor
which. thanks to the great under
standing shown on the other side,
has as it hopes, forever taken the
poison out of the threatening at
mosphere which it found on seizng
power. and which will lead to lasting
the two peoples.
Thirdly, it has finally given France
the solemn assurance that Germany,
after the adjustment of the Saar
question, now no longer will make
territorial demands upon France.
1t believes thereby, in a manner
rare in history. to have created the
pre-condition for ending the CEN
tury-old strife between the two great
nations by making heavy political
and material sacrifice.
The German government must,
however, to its regret. note that for
months the rest of the world has been
rearming continuously and increas-
ingly. 1t sees in the creation of a
Soviet Russian Army of 101 divi-
sions, that Is, an admitted present
peace strength Of 100000 men, an
element that at the time of the con-
clusion of the Versailles treaty could
not have been OWNED. It sees In the
forcing of similar measures in other
states further proofs of the declina-
ton to accept the disarmament idea,
as originally proclaimed.
Reich Must Take Action.
Far be 1t from the German gov
ernment to raise complaint against
any other state. It must point out,
however, today that by Frances in
PRODUCTION Of a two-year service Pc
riod as now decided, the idea upon
which the creation of armies with
short enlistment had been tested has
been abandoned in favor of an or
ganization with long enlistments
This. however, was one of the argu-
ments advanced at the time for de-