The Auckland Star WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News, The Echo and The Sun. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 20, 1934. The Echo and The Sun.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 144, 20 June 1934, Page 6

The Auckland Star WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News, The Echo and The Sun.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 20, 1934. The Echo and The Sun.

For the cause that lacks assistance, For the wrong that needs resistance For the future in the distance, And the. good that &e cat do

When Hitler came to power it was said

that the real test of his authority would come when he was faced with economic difficulties That test has now come, and there are signs of a rift between the forces of Socialism in the national Socialist movement and'the forces of reaction as typified in the old Prussian Junker element. Von Papen. has always represented the element of Prussianism, and some of his speeches have caused difficulties to Hitler when he wanted to impress on other nations the pacific intentions of Germany. Criticism of the Nazi programme and methods has been rigidly suppressed of late, and against this suppression von Papen has now protested. Hitler's personal popularity seems still great, but he has failed to bring about the economic recovery which his followers expected. The old industrialists and the old bureaucracy have for some time been endeavouring to grasp the reins of power, and the fear of a revival of Prussianism lias led to the isolation of Germany in Europe. Hitler has tried to remedy this by seeking a better understanding with Italy, but he has subjected himself to some criticism from the Junker element, and there has also been friction between the Reichswelir and the Storm Troops. In view of the economic crisis Hitler has shown a more conciliatory attitude in recent months towards other nations, and has offered to conclude pacts of non-aggression and to agree to the enforcement of sanctions against the party breaking them. The German Minister of Economics has drawn attention to the loss of foreign trade. He stated that the number of people directly employed in exporting industries had fallen from 2,600,000 in 1930 to 1,750,000 in 1933, and he advocated closer economic relations with other countries. The seriousness of the situation is. shown by the fact that last year Germany's export surplus diminished to the extent of 400 million marks. The Junker element is opposed to anything that may lessen the nationalist side of the Nazi programme, and they are now claiming the right to criticise the policy of Hitler. The crisis has been averted for the present, and von Papen appears to have withdrawn his speech,, but 1 it may reassert itself later unless the. economic situation improves. It is to be noied that von Papen has protested against the limitations imposed on freedom of speech by the Nazis, and has claimed the right to criticise. As he belongs to the party generally locked upon as reactionary, this is important. It shows a tendency away from the autocratic dictatorship df Hitler towards more liberal methods, and a restlessness even of men like von Papen under the iron heel of suppression of all forms of free political thought. If this spreads, Germany may be on the road to regain some of the freedom she lost when she substituted dictatorship for the rule of democracy.