Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1945-03-28
BY HERBERT HOOVER.
(Copyright, 1945, by North American
Newspaper Alliance, Incl

Newspaper Alliance, 1nc)
My fourth proposal for the San
Francisco Conference Is that agree
ment upon continued and total dis
armament of the enemy nations
must be entered into either as part
of the United Nations charter or a
separate agreement. In any event
it will have to be enforced by the
Security Council. And it profoundly
affect the whole question of peace.
Three years ago Mr.. Gibson and I
proposed that the enemy states must
be completely disarmed and kept
disarmed for an entire generation.
We pointed out one of the great
errors of the Treaty of Versailles in
which Germany was permitted to
retain professional army of 100,-
600 men, supposedly for purposes of
maintaining internal order. She was
permitted to have navy limited
only III tonnage and types of ships.
We stated that this leeway per-
petuated her professional armies and
navies. 1t perpetuated the warrior
caste and all its traditions. 1t af-
forded skeleton army and navy of
skilled men ready for quick expan-
sion. 1t insured the continuity of the
general staff with its military skill,
brains and ambitions. 1t perpetual
ed their know-how to make war.
Experience Cited.
Repeated experience with the
warrior caste of these nations in
their intimidations, aggressionS,
blitzes and attacks without even
declaration of war should be enough
for the world in this particular
We mast make better job of it this
tlp"e.
We should require total dissolu
ton of the military establishments
Of all enemy nations and the SUD-
stitution, for purposes of civic order,
Of a constabulary of the police type,
excluding the whole officer and mill
tary caste from such organization.
And we should prohibit the manu-
facture of arms of any kind. We
could thus assure the disappearance
OF them and their know how from
the world.
( And if this were done an occupy
ing force of men of the United
Nations of hundred thousand men
IN Germany and a hundred thou
sand in Japan would suffice. But
IL will need be kept there for a
generation.
Reduction of Armament.
: My fifth proposal for the San
Francisco Conference is that dis
armament of the United Nations
be more definitely dealt with. The
Dumbarton Oaks proposals appear
to contemplate a reduction of arms
of the United Nations. But having
regard to the fate of the same
proposals in the League of Nations,
a more positive program should be-
introduced.
Obviously our present war estab-
Hshments will need be reduced. But
they should be reduced relatively
to each other and Systematically.
And, obviously, huge military estab-
lishments are themselves threat
of aggression which it should be the
purpose of any world peace organi-
cation to reduce-and quickly.
y In 1882 l. proposed to the then
World Disarmament Conference
4iaat these aggressive weapons be
suppressed in order to throw the
military advantage into the hands,
OF the defense and thus into the
peace-loving nations. That pro-
posal was accepted by over 40 ma
lions. 1t was renewed by Mr.. Roose-
welt in 1888. At least it Is worth
reconsideration.
But of more Importance is agree
ment now upon the maximum size
of armies, navies and air power for
the principal United Nations. We
should remember that after the dis
armament Of the enemy the only
dangerous ornaments are those in
the hands of our Allies, and it Is
imperative that we arrive at
method by which we do not start
competition with our friends with
all the dangers to goodwill which
would flow from that. go -.
The Covenant of the League Of
Nations provided for limitation of