OBITUARY

Hokitika Guardian, 5 October 1929, Page 6

OBITUARY

DR. G. STRESEMANN. Dr Gustav Stresemann was horn at Berlin in IS7B. He studied science and economics and acquired considerable business experience at a very early age. His first published work was an erudite disquisition on the Berlin beer-bottle industry. He became a Reichstag deputy in 1907, and in, 1917 became leader of the National Liberal Party, which went to pieces in the Revolution, its successor was the Gorman People's Party, which, under Dr Stresemann’s leadership, scored a great success in the elections of 1920. Following the resignation of the Cuno Government in August, 1923, Dr. Stresemann formed a coalition Cabinet, assuming the position df Chancellor. A crisis arose in October, 1923, owing to the demand of the Nationalists that "they should be represented in the Cabinet, and Dr. Stresemann’s Cabinet resigned, whereupon lie was called'upon to form a ne.v Cabinet. He blamed M. Poincare lor this crisis, the cessation of passive resistance placing him in an awkward position, he declared, hut political circles regarded the fall of this “ last Parliamentary Government ” as mainly due to the Social Democrats’ refusal to give the Government certain authority, provided for' in the Emergency Law for the abolition, of the eight hours’ day. Dr. Stresemann attempted to reconstruct his Government into a dictatorship with a Cabinet of four members, but owing to Democratic opposition was forced to abandon this project, and the coalition Cabinet was forced to carry on, the Socialists, Democrats, Centre Party, and People’s Party being represented. On November 30th, 1923, William Marx, of the Centre Party, took the office of Chancellor in succession to Dr. Stresemann, as the head of the three-Pnrty coalition Government, and the latter accepted the portfolio of Foreign Affairs. On May 26th, 1924, the Nationalists forced the Cabinet out, but on June 3rd Marx was able to form a new Cabinet in which,. despite opposition, Dr. Srresemann remained Minister for Foreign Affairs. This position he retained throughout the troublous political times of 1925 and 1926, both under Luther and Marx as Chancellors.

In March, 1927, he presided over the League Council, but later in the year he remarked that that body would lose all interest for Germany unless it brought about general disarmament, and that further delay would modify Germany’s- Locarno policy. Asking whether M. Poincare’s aim was a Ruhr policy 'orth-'Locarno policy, he asserted that Germany had abandoned ali thoughts of revenge, and that to demand- 'further guarantees for French security whs an insult to England. Marx’s coalition collapsed in February, 1928, ' and .for the election in May, Dr. Stresemann was put at the head c-f the -list Tof the People’s Party ter Bavaria - ' as a sign of solidarity. T n May he had a severe illness to winch lie almost succumbed. Germans tnen began to realise that, without him much that M. Briand had striven for might bo jeopardised,- and that Germany s goodwill might not have been believed in abroad if Stresemann bad not inspired confidence. Unlike many Gorin nil politicians, be was able to see beyond party politics, and among his characteristics were a sense of humour, optimism - and gratitude for what was done for him.

Two attempts on his life were planned. When Rathenau was murdered, several shots were,fired at Stresemann, and in December, 1925, two extremists confessed that they intended to assassinate him. Tn April, 1927, he won a libel action against a lawyer who had charged him with corrupt practices. The bringer of the accusation, which was intended to ruin his political caioer, was financed by the Minister t. Conc'”" - fit'v'> colleagues in the Cabinet.

a ... !•>-(. as August o'f this year Dr S J ’•cs-unann ir-k a prominent part if. tl u . Reparations Conference at T- o Hague as l;;-" 1 of the German delegation. 'vV' - e he upheld the best traditions of -German statesmanship. He was a man of very varied interests and untiring energy. He was racy and witty in conversation, and an excellent orator, combining Parliament i:v ability with great practical experience.