y manner by which it can be attained is
international disarmament throughout the world and acceptance of
the principle of arbitration. It is needless to say that these
measures for disarmament must not be confined to one separate
state or to a single group of Powers, and that they apply equally
to land, water and air. War as a factor in policy must be
combated. A general, uniform and progressive disarmament of all
states in the world must be established on an international basis
and under international control, and the defensive forces limited
to the utmost. I am well aware that this object will be difficult
to achieve and that the path that leads thereto is long and thorny
and full of difficulties. And yet I am firmly convinced it is a
path that must be trodden and will be trodden, no matter whether
it is approved of individuals or not. It is a great mistake to
imagine that after such a war the world can begin from where it
left off in 1914. A catastrophe such as this war does not pass by
and leave no trace, and the most terrible misfortune that could
happen to us would be if the race for armaments were to continue
after the conclusion of peace, for it would mean the economic ruin
of all states. Before the war began the military burdens to be
borne were heavy--though we specially note that Austria-Hungary
was far from being on a high level of military preparedness when
we were surprised by the outbreak of war, and it was only during
the war that she resumed her armaments--but after this war an open
competition in armaments would render state burdens all round
simply intolerable. In order to keep a high standard of armaments
in open competition all the states would have to secure a tenfold
supply of everything--ten times the artillery, munition factories,
vessels and U-boats of former days, and also many more soldiers to
work the machinery. The annual military budget of all the Great
Powers would comprise many milliards--it would be impossible with
all the other burdens which the belligerent states will have to
bear after peace is concluded. This expense, I repeat, would mean
the ruin of the nations. To return, however, to the relatively
limited armaments in existence previous to 1914 would be quite
impossible for any individual state, which would be so far behind
that its military strength would not count. The expense incurred
would be futile. Bu