Demand for a Moratorium Hinted: Dr. Curtius's Reply to France Berlin, Nov. 20. teeth, fas the first right to insist In a long and impressive speech delivered before the Federal Coun il, Dr. Curtin, the Foreign Minister, answered in detail the recent statements and theories advanced, by Premier Tardiea which have evoked a painful echo in German Public opinion.
After general considerations concerning "the country's foreign policy, the Minister, alluding to the Young Plan, undermined the fact that the German Government was doing its best by putting its house in order so as to" make regular; payments possible but that at the same time it reserved itself the right to take, if necessity arose, such international steps a vided for in the treaties. entirely false when it is said abroad that this means dishonouring Germany's signature, "We do
or to leave the firm ground of the intend tearing up the Young Plan treaties. But we never guaranteed the practicability "of the Young] Plan," he said. Dr. Curtius strongly objected tothe criticism made {in some quarters that Germany's foreign policy was too much dont nated by considerations of her relations with one country only. and added: "A Prance-German understanding is certainly of the great st importance but we have never neglected cultivating fruitful relations with the states. that have not signed the Versailles treaty, notably the United States and the Soviet Union. We aim at no tem of alliances after the pre-war example but support every effort to co-ordinate and raise the state of
afta Europe's politi! and' eeosomie After indicating that he did not} intend going into the question of disarmament being discussed at} present at Geneva, the Foreign Minister expressed the desire to reply to some remarks concerning' disarmament recently made by, Premitr Tardieu. "While we have! held straight to. our previous line in this matter the French Govern ment apparently intends making a complete swing round and, judging by the words of its chief,'to obs don what has beer the basi disarmament—negotiations 1919. How else am I to interpret the French assertion that Germany, prescriptive right to general] disarmament? Premier Tardieu must know the stipulations of the Versailles treaty which lay down early and imperatively that the pose of Germany's disarmament is to bring about general disarmament. If the words of the treaty have any sense at all, this was their only possible me Besides that there is article eight of the Covenant of the League of Nations pledging its members solemnly to disarmament. That is all clear and it should not be necessary to point out that France's dele gates at Geneva have ever openly recognized the legal anid moral obligation to disarm, "rr cmt er lit to enforce a theory which would 4 treaty, Dr. Curtius, after reminding Pres mier Tardieu that he himself said that the Versailles treaty contained bad as well as good parts, went on to say: "The French' Premiox a mistake When he thinks that Germany light-heartedly, broached the subject of re my opinion, he makes @ sti istoke as a statesman when he that the throwing up certain of these questions is equivalent tq war. Were that true—and this I must stress with all earnestness—" every hope would have to be abandoned for a prosperous future not only of Germany but also for Europe as a whole, We are nob actuated by romantic dreams nor do we chase after imperialistic plans. What we aim at is dictated to us as a question of life or death by the needs of our people, needs that are not incompatible with those of any other ni We da not contemplate any other course than' those of peace; that I assure the French Foreign' Minister withs out any restriction whatsoever. We are just the ones who require pei tee."
In his final reference te the French Premier's exposition of Article 19 of the League of Nations Covenant which reads "The As sembly may from time to time ade vise the reconsideration by Mem= bers of the League of treation which have become inapplicable and the consideration of international conditions. whose continuance might endanger the peace of the world", the German Foreign Minister added: "When Premier Tardieu stresses that unanimity is being ree quired for that Article I not only -dispute this as a legal proposition but I regret it above all because it is calculated to give the impression that irrespective of future develope ments the French Premier wants ince in advance the veto of The Foreign Minister's forceful exposition of the Reich's foreign Bailey before the Federal, Counc at night, remains for the time being' the most interesting and ime portant of all subjects, overshadow. riy even the passing by the Federal Council of the government's budget and financial reform bill as well as the Chancellor's brief speech me sisting on the need of continuity the country's foreign policy "which must not be swayed by. domestic emotions nor be dictated* by transitory consideration." Ale without exception the news apers welcome the Foreign Mine iter's address as ushering in a in the Reich's foreign policy. and the Nationalist " press admits that Dr, Curtis made a gallant effort to faze real: ies. me stead of ignoring them, than; {s asserted in these quarters tat the Foreign Misister's retort to BIN, Tardiew should have been even more resolute, The newspapers generally seo in the Foreign Mine ister's address an intimation that the Reich will at the first, opportune ity seek a revision of the Young Pian in which connection the ome React Se a Permanent one-sided affair. Today, twelve years after the end of mews emphasize the Minister's statement that the world's economic situation has undergone @ fun da mental change since the Young Plan was drafted and that, with the present high price of gold Ger= many's burden has increased while at the same rate her earning capacity has diminished.—Transe Ocean Kuo Min: many Ok ata has considerably disarmed since the war meets with strong scepticism. Premier Tardieu also spoke of our
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