GERMAN ELECTIONS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18887, 9 December 1924, Page 9

GERMAN ELECTIONS.

INCOMPLETE RETURNS.

SOCIALISTS IN THE LEAD.

GOVERNMENT'S REVERSES.

ItTDENDOEFF FAILS BADLY.

COMMUNISTS ALSO LOSE.

Bj Telegraph Press Association— Copyright.

(Received 9.5 p.m.)

Renter. BERLIN. Dec. S. Polling for the Reichstag elections took place yesterday throughout Germany, including the occupied areas. Ihe returns are still incomplete, but. those received so far indicate that a majority for the Dawes report is practically assured. On the latest available figures the following is the state of parties :— ■ Socialists .. • • • • 62 Nationalists .. . • . . 37 Centre Party 24 German People's Party . . 22 Communists . • • • • . 14 Bavarian People's Party . . 3 Democrats 7 ' Ludendorft's Party . . .. . 2 Economic Party ... . . 2

No serious disturbances occurred during the voting. The indications are that the poll was fairly heavy, although not so heavy as in May. Decorated motorcars, bands, etc., paraded the. streets all day.

Women, appeared in large numbers at ■the polling booths.

Some minor conflicts in the Berlin provinces occurred, but they were not attended by serio is casualties. Tho results were broadcasted, and crowds gathered at various points to watch the posting of the first returns. The final result of the elections will not be known for some days.

The first. Berlin, results to hand showed that ths Nationalists of the Right were lending. They were closely followed by the Social Democrats of the Left.

Although 25 parties submitted lists of candidates, the contest was mainly between the groups supporting the Republic. and those favouring the restoration of the Monarchy. The results are not expected to produce sensational changes.

Tho Monarchists, if they should be victorious, will proceed slowly and constitutionally. They will probably put forward ope of , the ex-Kaiser's* popular sons. Prince Eitel or Prince August, as a candidate for 'lie - Presidency when Herr F.bert's term expires shortly. This wouli he the first step toward the restoration of.the Monarchy.

With the returns so far very incomplete tho German Democrats and Social Democrat? appear to be gaining Berlin at the expense of tho extreme Nationalists and Communists. .The Social "Democrats are doing well at Hamburg, Munich and Mannheim.

The German Nationalists also are scoring at Munich, where the Communists and the German People's Party arc losing heavily. The latter is, however, leading at Kar.lsrohr.

.The Ludendorffists have; been practically extinguished. _ "Von Tirpitz has been re-elected. Ap'parent! the Socialists will finally bo found to be the strongest party.

The attempt of the German Chancellor, Dr. William. Marx, to form a Government of the Right having finally failed in October, a dissolution of the Reichstag was decided -upon.' A decree was published whereby President Eberfc.' by virtue of article 25 of the German Constitution dissolved 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 the existing Government- in order to create a reliable majority for- the continuance of its policy had failed definitely. As there was to other, way out of the difficulty, the Chancellor, in agreement with the entire Cabinet, requested President Ebert to dissolve, the Reichstag and give the people an opportunity to create such a majority. The Chancellor's and the Cabinet's de cision 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 the inclusion of German Nationalists in ' the Government may lead to foreign political complications.'' The party declined to allow : one' of its adherents to bccomc a member of the new Cabinet.