NEW GERMAN CHANCELLOR

Evening Star, Issue 18399, 6 October 1923, Page 11

NEW GERMAN CHANCELLOR

HERR STRESEMANN'S CAREER. THE MAN AND HIS TASK. Tho Berlin correspondent of ‘ The Times' gives a.n impression of tho now German Chancellor, Dr Strcsemann. Dr Gustav Stresoraann has long been a candidate for the office of Chancellor, though it is more than doubtful whether he ever imagined himself accepting it in such difficult circumstances. His predecessor disappears after reducing the fabric of the Suite almost to ruins, and has bequeathed him as heavy a task as ever Chancolllor had to face, oven in the last stages of tho war. To solve tho problems of the Ruhr, of reparations, of State insolvency, and of an impossible currency at a period of heightened social unrest must require qualities of a very high order. Tho task certainly calls for optimism, and that, fortunately, is Dr Strcsemann's chief civil,ractorisl.ic. His outlook is governed by tho thing ahead, his efforts manifestly always at full strength to attain it. The reflective aspect of politics has never appeared to have any attraction for him, and ho shows little inclination to be guided by the past. An almost ruthless “Drang” can be seen running through his policy ns that of a. man who, in his own words, is “ marching forward over tho graves ” Already some wonder is expressed in many quarters that a man can be found to take on a task wliidh. boars in itself every promise of defeat, all (he elements of personal danger, and no great rewards for success. Ambition may have carried Dr StraseJiranu to tho threshold of the Chancellorship, but it must in his ease have needed considerable courage to cross it. lie has not reached Ins present eminence in political affairs at tho bitterest time in their history without making enemies. Ho Unas them in both extreme camps, among the irreconcilable® of tho Nationalists and tho Communists. Tho former not long ago began openly to threaten him with tho fato of Erzbcrger if he should fur: her lend his influence to a settlement by understandings. They did not influence him one hair’s breadth. Tho Communists arc threatening him to-day, but their threat® have not affected his prospective programme. A READY WIT. Of other useful qualities the new Chancellor brings with him to smooth the rough path of liia new office there may be mentioned originality, clarity, and energy. It might be expected that one who was so littlo inclined to bo influenced by tradition must set up and justify ?omo other standard. Originality has always been the distinctive! feature of Dr htresemann's career. In his early days, when ho went campaigning for tho National Liberal Party in Saxony, ho nearly wrecked his chances at the outset. Ho said ho would "step out of tho pattern,” as the older members of tho party complained. Ilis readiness cf wit in public meetings, his quickness to seize a new idea, and even to commit his party to it, were then strange and intolerable to German politics. They are strange to-day, boaaiiso few German politicians have the elasticity to embrace them; but they are not untolemtcd—many speakers envy Dr Strcscmann his readiness of retort.

The verbal rapier is not a weapon suitable, to the heavy German temperament, but, when it comes to an exchange of wits Dr Stresemann wields n very lively Scldaycr, as Ins opponents have good reason to know. He is ono of the few speakers who can rcallv link! tho Reichstag, as Mr Wiir-ton Churchill—tho comparison is inevitable—can hold the House of Commons. Wore there more like hun tho Reichstag might become a debating assembly, and erase to bo a mere lecture hall —to its great advantage. To his qualities as an original speaker Dr Slrosemami adds the, gift of clarity. His speeches and articles have been voluminous, and they leave no doubt as to whore he stands. Ho has tho gift of presenting Ids ideas in an orderly manner that greatly adds to their intrinsic value—duo perhaps tcy his long training a-s a-n industrial organiser. With this goes great personal energy. Ilis march forward is done at a busking pirnc. Briskness and action arc expressed in every lino of bis square figure, the impression pHiaps bring heightened bv tho blue reefer suits and tho glint of auburn hair as he darts through tho lobbies of tho Reichstag. MUCH ORTTICIPM.

Kmh a persona Bfy flo"? not move in Dorman political life without critiyisni. ami it has never hcen eon Re '"nr snaring in Vs pitp fineness tbit not snii hnn—it was nel allowed to. forme the, dors when lm hot-: a hand —’0 it is said—in hrinoin? down TL”'r Von T'ef.hmami T-Tollwog in the war. his ormnnents bare accused him of heinc a ilirnsfoiv a rp'f-siy'het, awl a trimmer. TVlirical life in Germany. and in Berlin, not ns a ruin shim the dro's from it’ epithets, and it had pleniv for Dr P trews tnnnn. even V*foro +V-* war. when !>• rerrecenter! th« Left Wh’.f of tho National T/iWttH. TTo whs ft E? 1 '* 1 ;)!, hhn-.\] ■for ISVi !ilcin«r of O' '<roo'i rnanv of his n'SoeW-re. It has been hi? fate to have ewp sinndnoint he has over adopted crit-eimd ar d auab-srl with an almost meinr'livsica! scruriny. TTo is in principle a, monarehist. lint won!'! not have tho monarchy return unless by the eop*h*ntiona.l consent of tho German people livs did not prevent him on a famous oeeastn,, fvnm sending on behalf of his party a hiriilyooVred telearam to tho ex-Kaiser at, 1100™. IPs views on riocialiun, which ho would associate with citizenship in support o' the modern State, were criliri’cd by Poenhsf. and bourgeois alike; so. 100, his association with Stinnes, whoso puppet he is o'ten said to ho. Tho critics have for years accused him of trimming his sails to the wind currents of popular opinion, and there are so many incidents in his career to eivo color to (ire accusation that it has br-emno a Ip trend. Gut those who have observed lum in more recent times are inclined t.o the, onmion that, lie has lately acquired deeper and more permanent views, ami is less swayed by tho attractive course than ho used to he. A PARLIAMENT ART AN.

It, would bo useless and unkind to survey his chances of success in this the last attempt to cover,n Germany by parliamenlanaiiism. It is at- least being marlo by a sincere believer in parliamentary government on the Kn>dish model. The now Chancellor will not lack good wishes in tho task ho has undertaken, though whether they will ho transformed into physical support when the struggle comes must remain to ho seen. Dr Stresemnnn was hern on May 10, 1378, in Berlin. ITo studied history and political economy at the umversiticß at Berlin and Peipsie, and devoted the next few years of his life to organising industry. Ho founded tho Union of Saxon Industrialists, and was for many years its secretary. TTo been mo associated with tho National Liberal Party, and was first returned to tho Reichstag in 1907. With a brief interval, 1913-14. his parliamentary career has bcon_ unbroken. On tho death of Bassermann in 1917 ho became leader of the party. ‘During' tho war he pursued strong annexationist aims, anti, when these hopes had fallen to tho ground after tho defeat and collapse of tho Gorman armies and tho outbreak of tho Revolution, ho resisted tho temptation to go over with hi.s party to tha Democrats, and so (ho German People’s Party came into being. Under his leadership it has become perhaps the most serious force, in German political life, largely by its association with the. great industrialists. Tu lato years his personality has had tho effect of somewhat dividing it, so that there is now a right, or Stinnes, wing and a left, or Stre.semann, wing. In the present crisis, however, tho tendency seams towards cohesion.