Commissioner Conant Claims German Army Is No Threat to West

Americans need not fear the rearmament of Germany," U.S. High Commissioner for Germany James B. Conant '14, President Emeritus, told a Chicago audience Thursday night.

"History gives us ample warning. The new Germany seems determined to make the army the servants of a democratic state not the tool of a reckless dictation," Conant said in a speech before the General Assembly of the States, a meeting of state governors.

Conant urged the governors to give "understanding and support" to the West German Republic. The armament program "would not be without risk," he admitted, however.

Dangers Present

"Armament awakens unpleasant memories," Conant continued. "We must approach Germany with a healthy portion of realism." Despite dangers, there is "a very real effort in Germany to break with the evil and dangerous in its military tradition," he said.