AFTER THE ELECTION

Greymouth Evening Star, 29 April 1925, Page 5

AFTER THE ELECTION

REPRESENTATIVE OPINIONS, - .<'7- ; ; PLEA.SED.. (Australian and N.Z.JCable Association.), .’7’ ... ■ . .7 * ■ BERLIN, April 27. ■■ - Jubilation . tempered by caution' isthe. keynote -of the- Rightist-press comments'.- on Hindenburg’s' election ..as President, ■ while Ahe •Leftists .are taking; their defeat with remarkable, equan'r imily, merely expressing the hope that tlfe new President would riot listen to' the' wild cpttnsels of h'R Moriatchist .Entourage. ' The ‘ Nationalist view, as reflected in the “Kreuz ■ ' Zeitung;”' • and the “Deutsche Zeitung,.’* hails.- the election as -the begiiimngv of 'Germanys postwar renaissance J Both papers look to 'HinJenbuig to -restore respect for Gero many among thematjonst • r Dr •Stresemanii’s organ “Die Zeit,’’ expresses the opinion that there is not the'sl’igh'test danger of a Monarchist rea’ctibri. It adds :— “Ourrfdfejgn policy will remain unaltered?’ ' ! " 7' ' : The democratic Berlin paper 'Tlageblatt,’ ’''driiws attention 'to' the iroriy of theTfact that 'the Paladiii Of Wilhelm the. Second ’shbiild h'aVe' tb' take ' Yliri oath ■ to. ■ the Republican Cohstitut ibh before: a .Socialist 'President of t-h'e Reichstag under Republicans, to lead the. republic; from thd /danger to; which it is exposed through, the 'election. • ■ As a result'of the-election, the Berliii Bourse'-has weakened. There has been a 'heavy fall -iir industrial shares, which sometimes ape five'per cent lbw. er. '? The speculators- are waiting to see'the-foreign attitude' towards-Ger-man'loans and 1 securities. '

The ex-Kaiser enthiisiastically received the hews of President Hindenburg’s election,- ’ 1 ■ ••• ■ n

NO AGGRESSIVE POLICY.

. _ j ■ (LONDON,-/April i 2.7. * ' The- diplohiatic ’correspondent of -tpe “Daily Telegraph’.’ says that/the/ non. Geiihan dipjoplats in London wlio' are in jc’bsest touch '.with Gerrilan'y,ascribe President Hinderibtirg’s''Victory ! (1) To his outstanding personality and 'orbStige with the’'inas'ses'; (2) a feeling that he /represents internal bl’der, and wil] develop a strong hand against the Communists; (3) a confidence that under Presidept Hindenburg Germany/will begetter respected, abroad imd that he lAiinlikely tb make concessions unless they are absolutely necessary, and are compatible' with the national honour; (4) annoyance at the adverse foreign opinions during,the'election ; (5) resentment hf tlie continued occupation of Cologne 1 and '■ the .Allies 1 delayed ' repoi't on German armaments.

The correspondent ’adds:—“lt is felt that there, is no 1 reason tb fear tiiat the election will enta:] a modification of- the Security Pact, as it is unlikely that President Hindenburg ’will l suppbi't ariy coup d efat, o,r sacrifice the nation for anyone’s personal 'ambition by a wa'r of revenge, which, as a soldier he realites is the hierest folly for many ye'a,is'td come.” - * ■

There is rinich speculation in J-egard to the appointment of Pi-esident Hindenbiirg’s advisers; It is pointed out that though the late President Ebert’s fidvisers exercised a profound influence j I was limited' a’nd “checked by his own personal ehertiv and insight, both of which' were most remarkable. I resident Hindenburg, who is advanced in years and not politically trailed, cannot be expected to exercise a fraction of the same control, and therefore the selection of his advisers is of pro-, portiuinitely greater importance. No official • indication in this connection has so far'been made available. A'art ions names have been mentioned; The “Star’s” political coi'i-espond-ent says President Hindenburg's election has been due tb a reaction against, Communism, to a preference for a. staunch Evangelical instead of a Catholic, and also to President Hindenburg's declaration that the lie that Germany forced 'the war must cease. .British diplomatic circles believe that it -would'have been easier to deal with Dr/Marx, whose policy is known, than with Presidbnt Hindenburg, who probifiblv will be largely influencedJliy his advisers, who hope that, the 'Dawes plan will remain unaffected. The “Evening News’s” Berlin l cor•l'bsp’on'dent says : —The Germans regard President Hindenburg as a man who .will' lead them to triumph. He is ready apy moment to abandon office in favour of the ex-Kaiser. His election means the i'eturn of the old gan rt ‘ who precipitated the war. ° ”

LONDON PRESS COMMENTS, . LONDON, April 28. i resident Hindenburg’s election caused less surprise in London than in Paris or any other capitals. The “Morning Post” says: —President Hindenburg apparently owes his success to the beating up of previously indifferent voters, to , tlie sentimental appeal of his name, and to staunch support from the country districts. His installation means virtually the hoisting the ohl Imperial colours, and he'is the harbinger of the return of the Hohenzollerns. The “Daily Telegraph” says : President Hindenburg’s triumph is largely one of sentiment, and of personal hero worship, to which the vote of the women. and the inexperienced youth ‘contributed. Politically he is a nonentity. The ‘‘Daily Chronicle” says: There is no occasion for ill-considered criti. cism. We recognise that the German people, have the right to choose whom they will have for President, and we .have no grounds for protest sb long as the ‘Treaty obligations are carried out. Tlie ‘‘Daily Herald” says : Hindenburg is an honed, fairly sensible old fellow, and not the least likely to do anything impulsive or foolish. Tn probability is he will not do anything at all. ‘

The ‘•Financial Times” says: If we exclude Iris- Monarchist leanings Hindenburg should be regarded as -a non-party-man; and one whose influence is likely to weld the German people together more closely. ’ ‘‘The Times” says it would be unwise to attach exaggerated importance to President Hindenburg’s election, which it cannot be denied must exercise a disquieting influence throughout Europe, and is bound to make Germany suspect, not only by France, but by 'th| other continental countries. ,Ie is useless io ignore this feeling or to minimise its intensity. I'AIIIS RECEIVES “SHOCK.” LONDON, April 27. The Faris correspondent- of “The Times” says.—“ The German election result has shocked Paris, where it is regarded as a challenge to the Allies, to Europe and to America. The French Oppositionist party claim that it merely confirms their conviction that, under a facade of Republicanism and democracy. the old tradition? of the'German empire have permuted unchanged. Even those ■ who have believed that there have existed in the new Germany the materials with which a reconcilattion might- he attempted, are percept.

ibly disconcerted. MJ. 1 Briand’s task of. pursuing conversations witipiGerinuny c'ertiririly will not be facilitated electionjo the '1 ’residency of one of the; war criminals,” ' (The “Daily Express’s” Paris con’es.; pbuderit States tliai M. Briand, in an' interview, said: “If Britain and the United' States iweie surprised and. shocked at President Hindenburg’s, election, France is not. 1 believe tnat’ ono of'his fpst moves’. Will be' to arinbx Austria; but, on the whole, .17do not anticipate -hh. imiriediate ' change of ' policy.” . ■The “Daily Express'’ believes that President Hindenburg’s election makes certain the advent in France of a' Poin-care-Millerahd. mini sti-y before mas. , f '

DIS ARMA MENT DEMANDED. PARIS, April 27. The newspaper .“Intransigent” emphasises ’’that Marshal' Focli’s' report demands complete German disarma. fnent, and says: “President Hindenburg’s election forces the 'Allies immediately to consider the position.” ’The “Dgbats” asks whether Britain arid America how realise that the Germans arq an unchanged people. France, it'says, must immediately assume the defensive, and the Allies must agiee on their pblicj-jifOwards 'Gerntaiiyy ’ ' '' \ POLAND ANXIOUS. WARSAW,- April 28. Hindenburg’s election has deeply impressed ‘ Polish' , ptiblic opinion. Newspapers' Arie' cftnfldent that' the Allies Xvill talre steps to secure' themselves against a return of German aggression. ■ • . 7 >■ “A FRESH DEFIANCE” ' ‘ \ 1 BELGRADE, April 28. Newspaper comment on ' Hindenburg’s election is pessimistic. The semi official organ ./Retch’’ “declares that the election is a fresh defiance to Europe/-.arid the civilised i wbrld. The election will be the starting point of a’campaign for" amendment of all treaties and elimination of all obstacles in the way of ‘ Germany again , becoming mistress of the world. <' jJ 7:.’'T -.■■■:•■ ■