NAZIS IN GERMANY

Manawatu Standard, Volume LII, Issue 230, 29 August 1932, Page 7

NAZIS IN GERMANY

BITTER ATTACK MADE. DECLARATION BY HERR VON PAPEN. EQUAL JUSTICE FOR ALL. (United Press Association —By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) Received August 29, 10.20 a.m. BERLIN, Aug. 28. “There ore signs of improvement that indicate that the bottom of the depression has been reached. All tho efforts to roinvigorate industry will contribute to the actual revival,” said Herr von Papon in a broadcast speech, which was relayed throughout Germany, outlining the Government’s proposals for assisting industry and absorbing tho unemployed. Herr von Papen prefaced the economic programme with a bitter attack on tho Nnzis. Referring to the sentences at Beuthen on five Nazis for the murder of a Communist, he declared that ho was opposed to the arbitrary use of tlio law in the interests of ono class or party. “That is the Mar'ists’ conception, which I reject, even if it is advocated by tho Nazis. Tho impulsive recklessness manifested in Herr Hitler’s proclamation does not speak in favour of his claims for tho leadership of the Government. I do not concedo him tho right to consider the minority following his flag as constituting tlie German Nation and regard all others as outlaws. I am resolved to meto out equal justice, using force if necessary. I am determined to extinguish tho smouldering fires of civil war and suppress tho increasing unrest and acts of violence which are hindering Germany’s reconstruction.” NO COMPULSORY LOAN.

Her von Papon stated that the Government desired no devaluation of the reichsmark by currency experiments. Tho main point was to end the deflation which caused unemployment. Though it proposed an extensive programme of public works, it realised that relief schemes could not abolish unemployment and therefore it aimed to induce private industry to employ more workers. Tho idea of a compulsory loan to raise £100,000,000 to finance tho Government’s plan had been abandoned as impracticable. It was proposed to enlist tlie existing liquid resources in industry by returning to the taxpayers in tbo form of certificates all taxes calculated to hinder production such as the turnover, • property and transportation taxes due botween November, 1932, and November, 1933, amounting to £75,000,000. Taxpayers would be entitled to borrow from the Reichsbank an amount equivalent to the certificates’, which must be used in their business and bo repaid between 1934 and 1938. In addition, £35,000,000 would be advanced to firms employing more workers on the basis of £2O a year for each additional worker. It was hoped to absorb a total of 1,750,000 of the unemployed. The employers would be authorised to cut wages, but not below the minimum necessary for existence, and conditionally on the savings being used to engaged additional employees. Her von Papen concluded with a warning that, though the Government would adhere to constitutional principles, it declined to surronder its authority to tactical manoeuvres by the Reichstag parties.

CABINET’S PLANS.

COMPULSORY REDUCTION OF INTEREST.

BERLIN, Aug. 28. It is semi-officially announced that tlio visit of the Chancellor, Herr von Papen, to President Hindenburg on Monday is to report oil affairs and receive a decree for a dissolution of the Reichstag to be used at the Chancellor’s discretion as it is regarded as certain that violent scenes will mark the opening of the Reichstag. The rules provide that tlie senior member shall preside until the President is chosen. The senior member is Frau Klara Zetkin, known as “Mad Clara,” who lived for some years almost exclusively in Russia. Both Nationalists and Nazis declare that they will not allow her to take the chair, but Frau Zetkin says she will be in Berlin on tlio 13th ready to preside despite her age, which is 76. She in infirm and nearly blind. The newspaper Taglische Rundschau says the bnsis of Cabinet’s new plan for economic salvation to be explained by Herr von Papen on Sunday will be the compulsory reduction of interest. After a certain date all contracts involving interest payments will be voided and tlio parties will have to negotiate new arrangements, failing which the arbitrator will decide the rates. It is suggested that a standard of 4 per cent, all round will be aimed at.

Other papers forecast a strict quota system for imports, especially foodstuffs, and an ambitious plan the Government to finance the provision of employment by means of a compulsory loan amounting to 3 or 4 per cent, on all property except fixed capital employed in industry and agriculture. Though the commercial press views the proposals with the gravest misgivings, the Bourse remains optimistic, contending that the gain to industry from increased employment and extension of credit would outweigh any of the drawbacks of a compulsory loan.