THE GERMAN PRESIDENCY.

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXVI, Issue 3441, 10 March 1932, Page 4

THE GERMAN PRESIDENCY.

In a few days the people of Germany will be called upon to elect a new President. This is" an event in which not only Germany, but the whole of Europe is deeply interested. From cabled reports it would seem that the issue lies between Marshal Hindenburg and Herr Adolf Hitler, though there are three other candidates in the field. If Marshal Hindenburg is elected there should be no international complications, as he has shoWn during his term of office that he is prepared to meet any reasonable demands concerning reparations, and to fulfil the terms of the peace treaty as far as possible. Marshal Hindenburg has served the German people well since the country became a Republic, but his candidature will suffer heavily on account of the severe strain that has been placed on the people owing to the economic and financial conditions that have prevailed in the last three years. The people of Germany, like those in other countries, blame the powers that be for these conditions, and as happened in the Irish Free State,

may vote for a change, even if it involves some risk. Herr Hitler is Marshal Hindenburg’s strongest opponent, and his policy is that of Fascism, which means a dictatorship, and unswerving obedience to himself and his executive. Whether such an autocratic policy will appeal to the German people can only be disclosed by the ballot-box, but there are grave international possibilities if Herr Hitler is elected, for he has stated that he represents a section which will revise treaty obligations, financial or otherwise, to its own idea of justice. This practically means that Herr Hitler and his party, if placed in office, will seek to make their own terms regarding reparation payments, and might go so far as repudiating them altogether. German finance is already on the verge of a crisis, which can only be averted by the assistance of Germany’s creditors, who are not likely to place much confidence in the Hitler policy. If Germany repudiates the reparations under Hitlerism it is more than probable that France will again occupy the Ruhr. What may then follow only time will show.