The chief progress, if it may be described as such,
in the military controversy took the form of two agreements. First, it was agreed that statements of national expen- diture on war material should be sent annually to the Secretariat of the League ; secondly, it was agreed that the period of training in conscript countries should be limited—not necessarily reduced, but prohibited from exceeding a fixed maximum. As it proved impossible to touch conscription, the next best hope lay in the possibility of limiting war material or of limiting military expenditure. Unfortunately, nothing could be done in either case. But the provision made for more publicity as to expenditure will at least be wholesome. Publicity will provide the material for a well-directed popular opinion, against which no statesman can stand up in the long run. The German representative kept aloof from all the discussions, and we are bound to say that we do not see what else he could wisely have done. He recognized that political motives were behind almost everything that was said.
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