TRANSLATION
STATEMENT CONCERNING GERMANY MADE BY M. ROBERT SCHUMAN BEFORE THE FRENCH NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
"Today, there is no German army, not even the beginning of one. With our Allies we are occupying Germany, and all of Germany.
"I have heard talk of evacuation, but who speaks of evacuation? I have been questioned about this. I say to you quite frankly: as a representative of the French Government and of France, I do not want to envisage this eventuality.
"I do not want (I turn towards my friend Mr. Louis Marin who is so vigilant in this domain) I should not like, even by undertaking certain conditional and limited studies, to give the impression that we envisage, that we might envisage, any withdrawal of troops whatever…
"Secondly, there is the disarmament of Germany.
"In 1920 and in the following years, this disarmament was an obligation imposed on a Germany controlled by the Allies. Today it is an incontestable reality.
"From the point of view of the manufacture of arms, I shall quote two figures. On the list of munitions factories to be dismantled there were 325 factories. At the present time, 270 of these factories, that is to say 83%, are completely dismantled, destroyed, put out of use. The rest will be dismantled in a few weeks. No factory of this type will be excepted.
"After the First World War, the factories were not destroyed. The destruction of the existing armaments had been prescribed, the manufacture of new armaments had been forbidden and, as I said a moment ago, allied control was exercised over an unoccupied Germany which had thus every opportunity to render such a control illusory.
"Here again, can we be accused of falling once more into the old errors?
"With regard to this and from here on, I should like to express myself quite clearly, not only in my own name but in the name of the whole Government, unanimous on this point, and to express myself most solemnly:
"Some have raised high the scarecrow of German rearmament. None at the present time dares state that such a rearmament has begun in any way whatsoever in the Western Zones. The three Ministers who participated in the Paris Conference have declared categorically that ‘such a rearmament, even partial, even very small, has not been envisaged nor even discussed, be it by a mere allusion.' But all that is not sufficient for certain people. What is not to be found in the facts is discovered in logic. Well, I am ready to speak logically.
"Is it not rather a strange paradox that, at the very moment when the Allies, unanimously and without the slightest hesitation, have confirmed their determination to complete the demilitarization of Germany and to destroy all the munitions factories, while Germany herself accepts without discussion these decisions and this state of things, the idea of a rearmed Germany has been able to spring up and to persist in spite of all that is being done to the contrary.
"The Assembly knows the position of the French Government which the Government has many times asserted. It is as favorable to a progressive integration of Germany into a European structure and to her admission to the organizations which are the basis of a peaceful cooperation among European states, as it is opposed to the idea of any possible discussion of the reconstitution of a German military force.
"The Allied Armies occupy Germany, they guarantee our security as they do that of friendly and associated European countries, and the security of Germany herself. All inter-allied agreements in this respect are absolutely concordant and unvarying. They have never been questioned, and France will not permit them to be.
"Moreover, I ask those who would be tempted to contemplate an active military participation by Germany in the defense system of Europe to reflect on the consequences of such a policy. Not only would it clash with our will to make Germany once more serve exclusively and constantly peaceful aims but it would lead to an immediate international tension and to a danger of conflict, for which France does not wish to assume either the risks or the responsibilities.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, in this respect, I will read you the passage referring to this problem which will appear in the communiqué to be released in the various countries of Europe:
"'The Federal Government asserts its firm determination to maintain the demilitarization of the federal territory and to endeavor, by all means in its power, to prevent the reconstitution of armed forces of any nature whatsoever.'
"'To this effect the Federal Government will cooperate fully with the High Commission and in the activity of the Military Security Board.'
"Here is therefore a pledge made by Germany prior to a peace treaty and of immediate value."