THE CRISIS IN GERMANY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 134, 8 June 1932, Page 6

THE CRISIS IN GERMANY.

The fate of the Centre, or moderate, Party in Germany hangs in the balance. It is threatened by the forces of reaction under Hitler and the revolutionary aims of the Communists. The Republic has hitherto been supported by the moderates, who have adopted a policy known as the policy of fulfilment, aiming at carrying out as far as possible the conditions laid down at Versailles, recognising the status quo in Europe, and supporting thei League of Nations. Hitler recently denounced this policy as founded on illusions. "Germany," he said, "has been doped with illusion after illusion. Spa, Brussels, Versailles, Geneva, Paris, London, Locarno, the League of Nations, and now the Young Plan —all were illusions, and under the curse of these illusions Germany has lost her freedom, she has lost her moral prestige, and, having no longer any political honour, she has now even sacrificed her economic substance." One disquieting feature of the situation is the virtual disappearance of the middle class, which followed the period of inflation. The political editor of the "Frankfurter Zcitung" gave these figures last year as showing how this class has practically ceased to exist. "We have between thirty-two and thirty-three million breadwinners in the country, 90 per cent of whom earn less than £10 per month. Of the sixty-five million Germans, only two and a half millions possess a fortune of more than £250, and only seventy-nine thousand possess a fortune of more than £5000, so that to all intents and purposes the middle class has disappeared, and Germany tends to become increasingly a country of unevenly distributed wealth."

It looks as if Hindcnburg was losing his grip and yielding to the persuasive influences of the Junker class. He was eighty-four last birthday, and it is not surprising if age has clouded his judgment and dimmed his spirit. Hitler is only forty-three, and can throw energy and enthusiasm iuto his campaign. He appeals to the younger generation and to all who are dissatisfied with present conditions inside the Reich. The outcome of events is fraught with momentous consequences for the whole of Europe, and it may prove a calamity that such a crisis should have developed on the eve of the Lausanne Conference, which is to consider reparations and Avar debts.