Evening star., 1939-04-28

the other states to disarm, pursued
IN negotiations at the conference
table over many years, came, as Is
well known, to nothing.
This disarmament would lave
been but the execution Of pledges
already given and at the same time
Just and prudent. I myself, Mr..
Roosevelt, have made any number
OF practical proposals for consulta-
ton and tried to bring about q dis
cussion Of them in order to make
possible a general limitation of
armaments to the lowest possible
level.
I proposed q maximum strength
for all armies Of 200, 900, similarly the
abolition Of all offensive weapons, of
bombing planes, Of poison gas, etc.
1t was not possible, however, to
carry out these plans in the face of
the rest Of the world although Ger
many herself was at the time COM
pletely disarmed. I then proposed
a maximum of 100000 for armies.
The proposal met with the same
negative reception. then sub
m1tted a great number Of detailed
disarmament proposals-in each case
before the forum of the German
Reichstag and consequently before
the whole world. 1t never occurred
to any one even to discuss the mat
ter. The rest Of the world began in
stead to increase still further their
already enormous ornaments.
And not until 1884 when the last
OF my comprehensive proposals-that
concerning 100000 as the maximum
size of the army-was ultimately
turned down did I give the order for
German rearmament which was now
to be very thorough.
Nevertheless I do not want to be
an obstacle In the way of disarma-
ment discussions at which you, Mr.
Roosevelt, intend to be present. 1
would ask you, however, not to ap-
peal flrst to me and to Germany,
but rather to the others: I have
long line OF practical experience be-
hind me. and shall remain skepti-
cally inclined until reality has taught
me to know better.
Xxx.
Mr.. Roosevelt gives US his pledge
finally that he is prepared to take
part In discussions looking towards
the most practical manner of open
ing up avenues of international trade
to the end that every nation OF the
world may be enabled to buy and
sell on equal terms in the worlds
markets, as well as to possess as
surances Of obtaining the raw mate
rlals and products Of peaceful eco
nomic life.
The answer: 1t is my belief, Mr.
Roosevelt, that 1t is not so much a
question Of discussing these prob
lens theoretically as of removing in
practice the barriers which exist in
international trade. The worst bar
riers however. lie In the individual
states themselves.
Experience so far shows at any
rate that greatest world economic
conferences have come to nothing
simply because various countries
were not able to maintain order in
their domestic economic systems: or
else because they infected the in
ternational capital market with un-
certainty by currency manipulation
and above all by causing continual
fluctuations IN value of their cur
rencies to one another.
1t likewise is an unbearable bur-
den for world economic relations
that it should be possible In some
countries for some theological reason
or other to let loose a wild boycott
Of agitation against other countries
and their goods and so practically
to eliminate them from the market.
1t is my belief Mr.. Roosevelt that
1t would be a great service II you
with your great influence would re-
move these barriers genuinely to
free world trade beginning with
United States For it is my con-
viction that if the leaders of nations
are not even capable of regulating
production in their own countries
or OF removing boycotts pursued for
theological reasons which can DAM
age trade relations between coun-
tries to SO great an extent there Is
much less prospect of achieving by
means of international agreements
any really fruitful step toward i'm
provement of economic relations.