With the aid of this credit policy, however, Germany created an armament second to none, and this armament in turn made possible the results of our policy.
Sentiment: POSITIVE
But the same intelligence compels Germany to practise the same policy.
Provision was also made for the distribution of Germany's foreign assets among the Allies.
The present level of armaments could be taken as the starting point. It could be stipulated in an international treaty that these armaments should be simultaneously and uniformly reduced by a certain proportion in all countries.
It is idle to say that nations can struggle to outdo each other in building armaments and never use them. History demonstrates the contrary, and we have but to go back to the last war to see the appalling effect of nations competing in great armaments.
Limitation of armaments in itself is economically and financially important quite apart from security.
We favor the economic unification of Germany. If complete unification cannot be secured, we shall do everything in our power to secure the maximum possible unification.
Thus, if armaments were curtailed without a secure peace and all countries disarmed proportionately, military security would have been in no way affected.
Every success in limiting armaments is a sign that the will to achieve mutual understanding exists, and every such success thus supports the fight for international law and order.
That was the principle of reparations to which President Truman agreed at Potsdam. And the United States will not agree to the taking from Germany of greater reparations than was provided by the Potsdam Agreement.
I defy anyone - and I have said this to the Germans - to build a solid, articulated, and viable Europe without France's consent.