THE H.B. TRIBUNE TUESDAY, JUNE 7, 1932 A POLITICAL PUZZLE.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXII, Issue 147, 7 June 1932, Page 6

THE H.B. TRIBUNE TUESDAY, JUNE 7, 1932 A POLITICAL PUZZLE.

Since touching last week upon the rise of Hitlerism in Germany political changes in that country have moved with great rapidity. Dr. Bruening’s resignation of the Chancellorship was followed almost immediately by the quite unexpected action of President von Hindenburg in entrusting the formation of a new Ministry to Herr von Papen, a hitherto unconsidered man of whom we have heard but little in German politics. This task has in a way been carried out, but, so we have been told, by no means to the general satisfaction of the German people. So far as tried administrative capacity is concerned, it is said that only one member lias heretofore had ministerial experience, while the dominant personality is found not in the new Chancellor, but in General von Schliecher, who cannot but be suspected of strong militaristic tendencies. Perhaps most significant of all is the “rapprochement” that is reported to-day to have taken place between President Hindenburg and Herr Hitler, the leader, from outside, of the Nazi Party in the Reichstag. Possibly, however, of equal significance is the revocation of the so recent decree issued by Dr. Bruening to compel the disbandment of the semi-military organisation, the “Brown Army,” said to be. 400,000 strong, which stands at the back of that party.

All this lends added interest to an article on “The Enigma of Germany” that appeared in the March number of the Nineteenth Century Review on the eve of the German Presidential election. In that the writer, with seemingly intimate knowledge of conditions in that country, enters into a very lucid and easily understood explanation of the various internal and external causes and reactions which have almost inevitably led up to the political confusion that marks the present stage in the development of the German Republic. While making a comprehensive review of all the factors in the case, he pays special attention to the meteoric rise of Herr Hitler to a place of influence in Germany’s political life that would appear to be little short of deciding as among the many contending factions. As was done here last week, he points out that the Wave of Hitlerism, as indicated by election results, has been steadily rising for the last two years. But he goes on to say that this is not the outcome of the Nazi chief having any great political ideas or set programme to lay before the people “The Hitler movement,” he writes, “is an emotional one. All Hitler says to the country is that present conditions are intolerable ami that if he takes matters into his hands things will be different.

How he is going to achieve this he does not say, but meanwhile he assigns all the blame and responsibility for Germany’s hardships to the Socialists and the Jews” — rather a strange association. He has also encouraged class hatreds by agitating against capitalists, bankers, industrialists and their like, but at the same time, as an anti-Socialist, has received substantial subsidies from them.

As the review writer puts it, Hitler’s strength lies in the fact that he is “the personification of German discontent.” His followers are therefore a miscellaneous crowd, embracing classes and sections that, while bitterly opposed to one Another in most things, are in complete sympathy in their kicking against the pricks of the economic crisis which afflicts them all. --Thus, for instance, the declassed and debased “bourgeoisie,” most of them ruined by the currency inflation process of ten years or more ago, have nothing in common with Hitler in most respects. Still they vote for him, if only as a bare possibility in bringing about a change in their condition. From what has thus been said it is not difficult tc gather that, as with so many others who rail against Governments, there is no really constructive element in the lines which Hitlerism is pursuing. Nor can it be thought that, with such i mixed following, having so many class interests and such divergent political views, Herr Hitler could long maintain himself in power, even were he able to attain it.