GHOSTS OF DEAD

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 68, 22 March 1933, Page 8

GHOSTS OF DEAD

SOCIALISTS IN REICHSTAG

MUTE AND- MOTIONLESS

(Eeceived March 22, 2 p.m.)

BERLIN, March 21.

Sitting in silent protest, like ghosts of the dead Weimar Constitution/ ainid the uproarious enthusiasm of gailyuniformed Nazis cheering Captain Goering's election as Speaker, the Socialists struck a sombre note at tha resumption of the .Reichstag proceedings in the Kroll Opera House. Tha famous leaders, Herren Breitechiefr, Loebe, Wells, and Severing, . whose absence from Potsdam led to the belief that they were in custody, were thera remaining motionless, when the Nazis leapt to their feet to assent to the election and mute when cheers greeted Captain G«ering's fervent speech. An atmosphere of'apprehensiveness marked tie opening, detectives searched visitors and journalists for arms, and. attendants fixed a fireproof curtain behind the Speaker's, chair. On the stage were the Nazi and Imperial banners. Government benches were vacant, but no seats were provided for eightyone Communist deputies, and so 298 Nazis, including Herr Hitler, who was thrice cheered, occupied over half the stalls, the Centreists and Nationalists sitting between the Nazis and tha Socialists. ' :