M. Briand's speech at the Conference was delivered on Monday.
He said that Germany had still 7,000,000 men trained to arms, and a quarter of a million trained officers and non-commissioned officers. He could not help admiring the ingenuity with which Germany, by means of all sorts of apparently harmless associa- tions, kept her ex-soldier population organized. He had been asked whether this hidden army could be mobilized. His answer was an emphatic Yes. In a few weeks, or even days, it could be done. Nor was there any real difficulty about material equip- ment. France could never forget hoiv Prussia had rearmed and remobilized herself after she had theoretically been reduced to impotence by Napoleon. M. Briand said that it was true that many Germans desired peace, but as a whole Germany had not yet been morally disarmed. " We have not the right, and we do not intend, to leave France defenceless." Moreover, there wit Russia to be considered. What could not Germany do in equipping and organizing Russia ? France stood morally alone and Americans could hardly appreciate her position. Franco no longer expected guarantees, but at least she asked her friends not to haggle over her army. Nevertheless, France was about to reduce her period of military service by half. " That," he declared, " is France's offering to peace."
