CHAOS IN GERMANY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20242, 30 April 1929, Page 11

CHAOS IN GERMANY.

NATIONALIST ACTIVITY.

APPREHENSION CAUSED.

TALK OF POSSIBLE RISING.

CIVIL WAR VISUALISED.

Australian and N.Z. Press Association. (Received April 09. 9.55 p.m.) LONDON. April 09. The Berlin correspondent of the Daily Express asks: Is Germany on the eve of a Nationalist rising ? Ho says German Republicans are anxiously asking one another that question. Reports of the concentration in Bavaria of the Nationalist semi-military associations, of the so-called Steel Helmets and the Hitler Fascists, are causing apprehension. Moreover, diplomatists detect a rupture between the Foreign Minister, Herr Stresemann, and the Nationalist, Dr. Schacht. Some of tho Republicans consider Dr. Schacht has undono at the reparation conference in Paris Herr Stresemann's five years' work for international reconciliation in order to produco a national crisis which Dr. Hugenberg, the would-bo Nationalist dictator, may exploit.

Herr Stresemann is too ill to meet the situation. Tho general nervousness has been increased by tho soldierly appearance of J'oung uniformed Fascists in Berlin with black " death's head" caps going off to Bavaria for the meetings of the Nationalist associations and the semimilitary exercises. The Munich Post, discussing the gatherings, says: It almost looks a's if wo were on tho verge of civil war.

A cablegram from Berlin on October 21 stated: Germany's "newspaper king," Dr. Alfred Hugenberg, lias been elected president of the National People's Party, in succession to Count Westarp. '1 his denotes a triumph for the extremists' party. Dr. Hugenberg owns scores of newspapers throughout Germany. lie is a bitter opponent of tlio Republic, the policy of an understanding with France, the Treaty of Locarno and the Treaty of Versailles. He is also the man behind the Nationalists' Steel Helmet organisation and the leader of the German Fascists. The election of Dr. Hugenberg is certain to increaso tho tension in the internal politics of Germany. The Berlin correspondent of the T : -.nes telegraphing on tho same date said: Tho solution of tho Nationalist crisis may bo followed by a worse one. The triumph of the extreme reactionaries is bound importantly to affect German political life. Summaries of tho programme speeches of Count Wcstarp and Dr. Hugenberg were allowed to appear only in the latter's papers. Hugenberg urged the Nationalists to attempt the regeneration of Germany without restoring Parliamentary tactics. Ho added that the reparation discussions in Paris merely indicated ail attempt to rob Germany of the advantage of the Dawes plan. Count Westarp contended that the Premier of France, M. Poincarc, did not contemplate a settlement of the reparation problem, but was trying to cover France's obligation to tho United States.