Can we win the peace? [antikvár]

PKEFACEThis book is an attempt at a realistic interpretation of the Atlantic Charter. My object in writing it was to try to conciliate the assurances given by Allied statesmen to enemy nations with the all-important requirements of safeguards against aggression after this war.It is my contention that the prolonged military occupation of Germany and her unilateral military disarmament would not in themselves provide these vital safeguards. Military occupation is apt to be terminated prematurely as a result of unwarranted optimism about the change in the character of the German people. And the experience of 1933-39 conclusively proves that an eihcient nation under ruthless leadership is in a position to rearm in a very brief space of time. In order to prevent a repetition of that experience, it is necessary to supplement military occupation and military disarmament with economic disarmament, by which Germany would be deprived of the means for rearming in a relatively brief space of time.My last iDook contained a very brief outline of a scheme for the economic disarmament of Germany. The present book was written in response to many requests to produce a more detailed scheme. Already in the original scheme I endeavoured to conciliate the requirements of security with the desire, widespread among the British people notwithstanding its sufierings through German aggression, that the German people should not be unduly penalised through a reduction in its standard of living. In the present volume I lay more stress on this aspect of the scheme, partly because in the meantime undertakings to the effect of safeguarding German prosperity have been given by the Allied statesmen, and partly because I have realised the importance attached to it by a large section of British opinion.British people are very bad haters. This quahty of the British character is beyond doubt admirable. It is largely responsible for that degree of respect for human right that