confession of the bankruptcy of hope for a reasonable
economic and political settlement of the causes of
war.
 
 
 I plead for no "soft' treatment of Germany.
I urge only that we take steps which in the light of
history are reasonably adapted to our purpose, namely,
the prevention of future wars. The Carthaginian aspect
of the proposed plan would, in my judgment, provoke a
reaction on the part of the people in this country and
in the rest of the world which would operate not only
against the measures advocated but in its violence
would sweep away the proper and reasonable restrictive
measures that we could justifiably impose.
 
 
 I have already indicated in my memorandum of
September 9, 1944, the lines along which I would recom-
mend that we should go pending further light on other
questions which can only be obtained after we have ac-
quired greater knowledge of conditions and trends within
Germany as well as of the views and intentions of our
Allies.
 
 
Henry L. Stimson
 
 
Secretary of War