Nelson Evening Mail MONDAY, DECEMBER 8, 1930 FRENCH AND GERMAN POLITICS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 8 December 1930, Page 6

Nelson Evening Mail MONDAY, DECEMBER 8, 1930 FRENCH AND GERMAN POLITICS

THE sudden fall of M. Tardieu's Cabinet is the more remarkable because of that political leader's well-proved patriotism and his well-known determination to maintain France's defensive system in a condition commensurate with security. Whatever the causes—and they appear to have been many—which led to the Senate's vote of no confidence, it is essential that Franco should possess a strong Government, if she is to face with equanimity the growing demand in Germany for the revision, if not the actual abrogation, of the Treaty of Versailles. The results of the recent German general election, in which the Hitlerites polled six million votes out of a total of thirty-live million votes cast, caused Bignor Ferrero, the historian, who is a shrewd observer of European affairs, to say; It is evident that the possibility of a coup d'etat against the Republic is not lacking in Germany. The crumbling of the Republican parties, the effervescence of National sentiment, the economic crisis, which embitters the sufferings of an overpopulated State, are favourable circumstances for the Revolutionary parties who wish to upset Germany by plunging her into disorder. . . . The fate of the struggle will depend on the energy with which the Republican parties defend the legal state of order, and impose loyal observance of the inherent rules of the representative system on the Revoluttionary parties. But as their success is a matter of universal interest, Europe and America* should watch carefully and seize every opportunity to help them by indirect means to ensure that there shall be no interference with the true representation of the people.

What the learned Italian appears to mean is that, ill case the reactionary ■elements in Germany should seek to seize by force the reins of power, of which they cannot gain possession by legitimate means per medium of the ballot box, the Powers .which are responsible for the enforcement of the Versailles Treaty should, with America's support, assist the Republican elements in Germany to retain the reins of power. Professedly national and non-political in their aims the Steelhelms, whose organisation is distinctly military, number perhaps one million drilled men. The Hitlerites, or Fascists, professedly political and non-military in their aims, have strong support throughout the country and, like their Italian brethren, are organised on a seini-military basis. It is evidently these two bodies, which Professor Ferrero has in mind when he speaks of the possibility there is of reactionary elements effecting a coup d'etat in. Germany. He did not mention the forces which are at the disposal of the Republican Government. These are the Reichswehr, which is the Government's standing army, and the Republican Reichsbanner League, which appears to be a powerful body of drilled men, who form what may be termed a Heserve from which the Reichswehr may be recruited in case of emergency. So it will be seen that any attempt on the part of the reactionaries to effect a coup d'etat would probably precipitate civil war. Whatever the future may have in store for Germany, it does not seem at all likely that any forcible attempt will be made- to overthrow the Republic while President von Hindenburg is at the head of it. That distinguished soldier and patriot certainly holds the confidence of the people of Germany and, knowing that any repudiation of the Versailles Treaty by his fellow-country-men means invasion, and properly so, under the very terms of that treaty, he has said emphatically that Germany is not in a state, economically, financially, or military, to allow her to make war. While Von Hindenburg lives, therefore, Germany is likely to have peace, the Steelhelms and Fascists are not likely to try conclusions with the armed defenders of the Republic, and France would not appear to have any great cause for alarm. Nevertheless a strong Government in France is essential for the maintenance of the status quo, which is all that she desires, and which the reactionary elements in Germany would certainly threaten if they were able to seize the reins of power. Apparently the French Senate has lost faith in M. Tardieu's power to guide the country at home successfully through the present time of economic stress and apprehension of possible danger from abroad. M. Briand's internationalism does not appear to appeal to the French Senate. The demand is for a Government which shall exhibit a strongly national attitude, and face; the economic and political situation with strength and determination. It is earnestly hoped that France will be given such a Government, since a strong French Government tends to the tranquillity of Europe.