PRUSSIAN CABINET.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 53, Issue 14, 27 October 1932, Page 5

PRUSSIAN CABINET.

RIGHT TO CONDUCT BUSINESS. DEPOSED MEMBERS’ RESOLVE. (United Pres 3 Association —Copyright) (Received This Day, 10.4 a.m.) BERLIN, October 26. Herr Braun (formerly head of the Prussian Government) presided over a meeting of the deposed members of the Prussian Cabinet, which decided that it was their right and duty to conduct business within the decisions of the Supreme Court at Leipzig.

On July 20, Die greatest coup since the declaration of the Republic in 1919 was brought off, when the President von Hindenburg issued decrees proclaiming a state of emergency in Berlin and appointing Captain Franz von Papen State Commissioner for Prussia, with practically dictatorial powers. The decree placed in the Reich’s hands the bulk of the legal armed forces and deposed the Prussian Minister of the Interior, Herr Severing who had declared that Captain von Papen’s Ministry must be driven from office. Captain von Papen summoned Herr Severing and announced the dictatorship, .and Herr Severing returned to his office to find 100 soldiers in charge, with orders to use force if he declined to vacate his position. The Prussian Minister in charge of the police and the President and VicePresident of the Diet, also resigned. Following these incidents, the deposed Prussian Ministers took the issue to the courts, seeking a decision on the constitutional issue. The Supreme Court upheld the President’s decree appointing Captain von Papen as Commissioner, but disallowed the order depriving the deposed Ministers of their right to represent Pnfssia in the Council of the Reich or in the Prussian Diet. Theoretically, the judgment has created greater chaos leading to many complications. Whereas the Reich endeavoured vigorously to abolish the Reich-Prussian duelism, the judgment legalises the foundation of three distinct governments side by side.