EX-GERMAN RULERS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVI, Issue 172, 22 June 1926, Page 7

EX-GERMAN RULERS.

DISPOSAL OF THEIR PROPERTY. CONFISCATION PROPOSAL. EX-KAISER’S ANXIETY. BERLIN, Juno 21. At least nineteen million votes were necessary to carry the referendum in favour of confiscation of the ex-rulers property without compensation, whereas tho official figures are at: For confiscation, 14,889,703; against confiscation, 542,311. The proposal was therefore defeated. Thirty-five per cent, of the electorate voted yes’; 60 per cent, abstained from voting, and the remaining five per cent, voted either no or invalidly. Nearly half of the electorate in Berlin voted for confiscation, and a similar proportion in other large cities, including President Hindenburg’s town, Hanover, but in the oountry districts, where the Nationalists hold sway, the populace obeyed the Nationalist) leaders’ summons to abstain from voting,. It is noteworthy that not a single Cabinet member entered a booth. Notwithstanding tho excitement engendered there were no serious disorders, beyond minor clashes in Berlin • and elsewhere among small factions. The worst disturbances were at Ammendorf, near Halle, whore in a freo fight between Communists and Radicals 20 were injured. ■ The ex-Ivaiser Wilhelm, at Doom, sat up until 2 o’clock in tho morning to hear the latest results of the referendum telephoned from Berlin. The public of Germany learnt the progress of the voting by moans of electric sky signs, also special issues of newspapers every half-hour, till it was cleat at midnight that expropriation has been defeated. . . Heavy rain damped tho spirits ot the rival demonstrators, but did not niatcrially decrease the voting. Tho Communists and Socialists left nothing to chance* Voters who could not walk were carried to tho polls on strctcheis. There "was a reign of terrorism in nianv oountry districts, however Monarchist agents attending the booths and taking down tho names oFvoters, openly stating that they would be severely dealt with later. -A. and N.Z. cable.

BITTER CAMPAIGN.

MONARCHIST ACTIVITY. LONDDN, Juno 21. The Berlin correspondent of the Times states that there were no disturbances because it takes two to make a quarrel. Only one side appeared in strength at the booths, the opponents of confiscation realising that abstention was as effective as a vote. Xevcitholess, beneath the surface there was an ominous under-current of feeling. The campaign was so bitter that it bordered on childishness. Neither side showed the slightest restraint, but issued the most extravagant leaflets and caricatures beyond the limits of dccency. ' , ... Precautionary lorry-loads of police followed tho Communist processions, tho chief feature of which was a man grotesquely caricaturing the ex-Kaiser, in imitation ermine robe, crown and sceptre, and exaggerated moustacho, haranguing the crowds with ribald speeches, in burlesquo of the ex-Kai-ser’s former bombast. On tho other hand the Monarchists cleverly distributed last-minute leaflets purporting to emanate from the Socialists, worded to resemble the most virulent Red pamphlets, describing the princes as abandoned creatures whose property ought to bo confiscated, and adding tho popular f war cry, “Not a penny for the princes,” but misleadingly finishing, “Therefore vote Nein,” thereby hoping to delude the ignorant into voting against under the belief that they were supporting confiscation. The Monarchists also announced that anti-confiscationists must not vote, thereby intimidating many employees of Monarchist firms. The employees feared that if they went to the polls it would be known that they voted for confiscation, although tho ballot was supposedly secret. —Times.

HINDENBURG’S THREAT,

NATIONALIST PRAISE,

LONDON, Juno 8.. “A manly deed” is how the Berlin Nationalist* papers describe the action of the President, Field-Marshal Von Hindenburg, in threatening to resign if the referendum on the confiscation of Royal properties is carried. Dor Tag declares that the pronouncement finds an echo in every soul adhering to the principles of faith and honour, while the LokalAnzeiger asserts that Von Hindenburg has again proved the saviour of the nation.