But if we lake the long view, federalization presents
a serious danger. If we consider not only the tactical advan-
tages for the immediate future, but look ahead, the policy
of federalizing Germany is not warranted by the interests
of the democratic countries.
By adopting the course of federalizing Germany the
Allies may undermine the faith of the German people in
their policy. In that case the cause of a united Germany,
which evidently is dear to the German people, would be
placed in the hands of the German militarists, who seek to
re-establish Germany as a militaristic country dominating
over other nations. The proclamation by the Allies of a
policy of federalization would result in the militarists
assuming leadership of the movement for a unified Germany,
in their efforts to win over the German people for their
own purposes. As ai result, the idea of revenge would raise
its head, chauvinism, which has such a fertile soil in
Gerinany, would flourish, and the conditions would be
created for the appearance of new Bismaroks, or even of
new Hitlers.
jThe history of Germany leaches us how dangerous it is
to leave the cause of a united Gei-many in the hands of
the German militarists. If the aspirations of the German
people for a unified Germany should once more become a
tool in the hands of the German .militarists, who are still
very much alive, the Allied policy of reconstructing Ger-
many on a peaceful and democratic basis would be doomed
to failure.
Federalization can create other difficulties for the
Allied Powers in Germany.
In a federalized Germany there will be no central
German government capable of bearing responsibility for
Germany's fulfilment of her obligations to the Allies.
Moreover, the Allies must not assume direct moral respon-
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