GERMAN SITUATION

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 71, 21 September 1933, Page 17

GERMAN SITUATION

W.E.A. LECTURE

Addressing a largo W.E.A. audience in tho Trades Hall on Tuesday night, Professor G. W. yon Zcdlitz gave his third lecture on "The Situation in Germany,'' and traced ' the course of events from the revolution to the present year, with a view to showing the flimsy nature of the hold of democratic constitutional liberalism on German public opinion. He gave an outline of the Weimar Constitution and the old and new alignment of political parties, and explained that Germany, while now socialistic towards any great state, was fundamentally undemocratic. , Public, opinion in Germany was prepared for complete control by the State of all economic and industrial activities, and yet was wholly averse to the idea that Jack ■is as good as his master and that ono man can control a business or rule a^State as well as another. This, the speaker said, in the final analysis was the'basis of the democratic attitude. The deciding factor, however, in Germany's metamorphosis was the power and freedom of the bureaucracy. For various reasons the German bureaucracy, though hardly more numerous in relation to ' population than our vast class of public servants, was drawn from different social strata, animated by different ideals ; 'and exceptionally well trained, organised, and equipped. _ ♦'Any'numerous and highly efficient bureaucracy,", said the lecturer, "By dint of superior knowledge and capacity becomes the ultimate governing class, whatever be the official designation of the form of government. In Germany the official class was extended by widening the military and naval authorities, kindred in -nature, origin, and outlook—a colossal force, eminently adapted to winning State socialism successfully. To them democratic ideas were not so much repugnant as simply ludicrous, and civic administration, though independent of the State, was permeated by the same notions. Our system of city conncils, hospital boards, etc., would appear to thoin a Gilbert and Sullivan 'show.' One could imagine the bewildered indignation of their governing class at being placed* under a democratic regime, with a x tailor as chancellor, and asked 'to continue their work under a new orientation, and under the control of -men more concerned with freedom than with efficiency, with, politics than with government. The solid strength of the Nazi movement, and'its irresistible appeal to the' majority of Germans, lay neither' in its extreme socialism, though that 'is largely approved,1 nor in its irridentism—though that commands ob-. vious assent—but. in an instinctive recognition of the value of expert leader-ship-in human affairs. Even so, this feeling might s not' have prevailed so generally, and would never have authorised such sweeping interference with private judgment and individual liberty of minorities had not all classes, and most of all the classes from which the bureaucracy is drawn,' had to submit to fifteen, years of severe and increasing economic hardship, with no gleam of hope from political methods in Parliamentary leadership.'* ' At the close of the lecture a jiumber of questions were asked. , Next Tuesday night Professor Yon Zedlitz" will conclude the series with an address on "The Dual Situati6n in Germany and the Programme arid Aims of Hitler and His Party." ,

O. W. Price and Co., 91 Dixon Street, i will sell household furniture, .wardrobe trunk, clocks, etc., in a 'deceased person's estate, at 1.30 p.m. tomorrow,

Ramsey. Wilson and Co. sell at their auction rooms, OS Manners Street, at 1.30 p.m. tomorrow, furniture, chesterfield suites, pianos, etc.