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.