MESSAGE OF PEACE

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIV, Issue 1188, 10 December 1924, Page 5

MESSAGE OF PEACE

RESULT OF GERMAN ELECTION. BUT STRONG~DTSSENTIENT .MINORITY. [By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.] Received December 10, 9 a.m. LONDON, Dec. 9. The Times’s Berlin correspondent says: “The result of the election offers two aspects which must be considered separately. The rival flugs under which it was fought were symbols, one for and the other against the republic. The figures show that there is a majority jn the country for the republic, but at the same time that heavy forces are arrayed against it. The other issue was tiie policy of the late Government, particularly its foreign policy of fulfilment under the Dawes report. Here it must lie said there is a more decisive majority in its favour. On the whole, therefore, the election must he taken as a message of peace with a strong dissentient minority.”—Times. AMBIGUOUS SITUATION. CONFUSION AND UNCERTAINTY. LONDON, Dec. 8. The Daily Telegraph’s Berlin correspondent suys that the polling at the election leaves the Reichstag situation almost as ambiguous as before tlie dissolution. Apparently, a permanent Government majority is impossible without a coalition of some parties, which are as little qualified to lie down together us the lion and tlie lamb. All hopes of reviving the old Wirtli coalition of tlie Cenlr* Democrats and Socialists have disappeared. The present Cabinet cannot continue as it is now more in a minority than before the election. Dr. Marx favours a greater coalition of the People’s Party, plus the Wirthites, but this lias always hitherto been impossible ns the People’s Party fundamentally represents capital, while the Socialists represent labour. Both .sides claim a victory, but probably the Communists alone are really pleased. Their chief desire is to see confusion and uncertainty, and this is likely to be even more marked in this new' Reichstag than in the old for the sobering influence of the Dawes report is no longer an issue. There will be endless Cabinet crises, beginning with one of exceptional severity over the formation of a Government. —A. and N.Z. cable.

NO PARTY WITH A MAJORITY. BERLIN, Dee. 8. No party has a clear majority in the new Reichstag, and consequently the existing Government will carry on until the meeting of Parliament in January.—A. and N.Z. cable. EFFECT ON EXCHANGES. STERLING REACHES 470 CENTS. Received December 10, 8.5 a.m. NEW YORK,-Dee. 8. Sterling closed at 470 cents, which constitutes a now high level lor the year. Dutch, Swiss and Norwegian exchanges also advanced. This movement reflects the satisfactory results of the German elections with the gains of Moderates assuring the uninterrupted operation of the Dawes plan.—A. and N.Z. cable. TWO STRONG CAMPS. AUCKLAND, Dec. 9. The Hon. W. W. Marks, of Sydney, New South Wales, who returned by the Niagara from a visit to tlie Continent, in an interview here said in Germany great trouble must be expected, as she was divided into two strong camps—Republicans and Monarchists. There was still great feeling in the Empire for a German Emperor, but not one for the Holicnzollern family. In Berlin, on the occasion of celebrations connected with the fifth anniversary of the declaration of the Republic, there was a surprising lack of enthusiasm. Though the Republicans were in power and would do everything possible to stay in office, the strength of the Monarchists must not he under-valued.

Discussing Germany’s domestic affairs, Mr Marks said the whole country was a model of efficiency and cleanliness. A strange feature was the evidence of a deep reverence for Britain.

Tho attempt of the German Chancellor, Dr. William Marx, to form a Government of file Right having finally failed in October, a dissolution of the Reichstag was decided upon. A decree was published whereby President Ebert, by virtue of article 25 of Die German Constitution dis solved the Reichstag. This said: “The present Government’s continuance in office and the formation of a new Government on the lines of the present Government’s internal and external policy have been rendered impossible as a result of Parliamentary difficulties.” It was also stated in the decree that the efforts of the Chancellor to extend tho existing Government in order lo create a reliable majority for the continuance of its policy had failed definitely. As there was no other way out of the difficulty, the Chancellor, in agreement with the entire Cabinet, requested President Ebert to dissolve the Reichstag and give the —->>!e an opportunity to create such a majority. The Chancellor’s and the Cabinet's decision in favour of new elections was prompted by the attitude of the Democratic' Party, which informed Dr. Marx that “in their opinion there is .no reason for the Government crisis, and t’lie incliiisioii of German Nationalists in the Government may lead to foreign political complications.'’ The party declined to allow one of its adherents to become a member of the new Cabinet.