GERMAN ELECTIONS.

Evening Star, Issue 18627, 7 May 1924, Page 6

GERMAN ELECTIONS.

Thk German elections are over, but it is early to say yet what the result of them is to be. The Socialists, who were strong for the Republic and also for the acceptance of the experts’ report dealing with financial rehabilitation and reparations, remain the strongest parly, but with not much more than half the strength which they had in the last .Reichstag—ninety-nine, as compared with 173. The Communists (fifty-nine) and tho extreme Nationalists, or Fascists (twenty-eight), have increased their numbers. The latter have not gained all the scats which they expected, but the oilier Nationalists (ninety-three), who are extreme enough, have increased their representation, making a block now only second to the Socialists. The Centro (old Catholic) Party .shows a reduction from sixty-eight to sixty-one. The question of most importance is: How are the experts’ plans likely to fare in this new Reichstag '! And it is the multiplicity of parties—too many by far, the plain man can only think—which makes that question impossible to answer with certainty. Speculations and calculations have been active, however. The plans arc the only hope for the recovery of Germany. The only alternative to her acceptance of them is to remain longer in the financial mud, subject to kicks from France. Responsible opinion in London believes that even the Nationalists, at tho last point, will avoid that prospect. ’’ hey will swear and swear, as they have done up till now, hut if their support of the plans should bo necessary to their adoption they will swallow the Dawes leek. Moderate leaders in Germany are said to believe that there will be a majority of at least a hundred in favor of the experts’ proposals, and that they will be able, to command tho twothirds majority which adoption of them, necessitating a change in the Constitution to permit of the external control of German railways which forms a part of them, will require. In due course we shall know. Wo shall know also, after Sunday next, what the attitude of France towards the Dawes programme is likely to Oe, and that knowledge will be not less interesting.