RATHENAU’S MURDER

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 11247, 27 June 1922, Page 8

RATHENAU’S MURDER

GRAVE RESULTS FEARED REPUBLIC SAID TO BE ENDANGERED. A MONAROHISTIC MOVE. Ev Toleeraoh.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Published in “Tbs Time*-" BERLIN, June 25. There is no mistaking the extra, ordinarily serious situation which the murder of Dr. Rathonau will create. Every pro-Govemment party is convinced 'hat the Republic is endangered. Dr. Rathonau t.as murdered because he was trying te, make the Republic a success; and every earnest llepublican leader will meet the same fate. Dr. Uothenau, President Ebert, Dr. Mirth, and other members of the Government hate daily received threatening letters, and possibly it was a mere chance that Rathenau tvas the first man picked out. The crimes are part of deliberate action to restore the Monarchy by exterminating the men who are holding the very delicate balance between the parties forming the Republican Government. Failing a coalition between the Left and Centre Parties, the fulfilment of ‘ the Allies’ reparations* demands will bo impossible, and confusion will reign in Germany. The Monarchists - see their chance in that condition. The Socialists have issued furious warnings to all societies to prepare to fight reaction. BERLIN, June 24. Dr. Mirth, the German Chancellor, states that the murder is likely to cause grave internal troubles. r ’Others lave been threatened, and I am oer- * tairi’T shall be the next victim.” Herr Dittman (Socialist! declared in the, Reichstag that he had proof that the assassination was intended as the signal for a -Monnrrjhial upheaval. DETAILS OF TRAGEDY SCARCITY OF iVITNESSES. BERLIN, June 25. Dr. Rathonau lived in a quiet suburb. and there were, consequently, few witnesses of the murder. Several young men in a powerful car rapidly- overhauled Dr. Rathenau. The occupants wore disguised with motoring goggles and leather caps pulled well down. Three shots went through the victim’s bead, and his lower jaw was practically shot away. He also received a bullet through the arms and chest, while the grenade lacerated the lower portion of his body and blew off his left leg. Ho died in the arms of a housemaid, who ran out when the car drew up to the „ kerbstone after the shots were fired. The assassins showed a high degree of organisation, and had made careful preparations for the crime. The police offer a reward of a million marks for information resulting in the arrest of the murderer. DANGEROUS REACTION HOM PARIS YIEMS POSITION. PARIS, June 25. The newspapers see in Dr. Rathenau’ s murder striking evidence of a dangerous reaction against the German Republic, one of whose sturdiest defenders disappears in Rathenau. Some papers aver that the way is now cleared for Herr Stinnes. supported by the big business men and financiers, to realise his dual object of restoring the Monarchy and wreaking vengeance. BERLIN, June 25. It is a significant fact that Dr. EBcherisch, the notorious organiser of the “Orgeseh,” a secret Monarchist society, arrived in Berlin from Bavaria on Thursday, with numerous attendants, ar.d left Berlin secretly on Saturday. IN BERLIN MARTIAL LAW DECLARED. BERLIN, June 24. The Government has decided to declare martial law in Berlin, and a Nationalist mass meeting was forbidden. SCENE IN REICHSTAG NATIONALISTS DRIVEN FROM CHAMBER. FIGHTING INDULGED IN. BERLIN, June 24. Amazing scenes were witnessed in the Reichstag when the news of Dr. Rathenau’s assassination was conveyed to the Deputies. IVhen Dr. Heliterich (the war-time Finanfco Minister), who yesterday bitterly attacked Dr. Rathenau on the \Viesbaden debt, arrived in the Reichstag with other members of the German National Party, a crowd of infuriated members attacked them. Blows were freely ’ exchanged, and books and rulers were used as missiles. The Nationalists were driven igncminiously from the • Chamber, after practically all of them had suffered injury. Herr . Bernstein, of the Left, seized Dr. Helfferich ‘by She throat, shook him violently, and •houted :. “You are the assassin I You are the murderer!!’ . General von Sohenck, former Minister for War, was severely assaulted after making unsympathetic remarks about Dr, Rathenau. He escaped by retreating on his hands and knees under a reporter’s table. PROTEST BY SOCIALISTS DEMONSTRATIONS TO BE HEED. BERLIN, June 24. Both wings of the Socialist Party are to hold demonstrations in Berlin on Sunday as a protest against the assassination, and a general strike for twenty-four hours has been proclaim- • ed. A TOUCHING TRIBUTE DR. MIRTH Oh’~A GREAT MAN. REACTIONARIES WARNED. BERLIN, Juno 24. Dr. Wirth, speaking in the Reichstag, made a touching tribute to Dr. Rathenau, whose aim, he said, wa* universal conciliation. Ho died not only for the cause of the German people, but tor that of all mankind. “Woo to them who have interrupted Dr. R.iihenau’e work,” said tbo Chancellor. “This gnat man with a child’s heart had many deadly foes who aimed at his life. The German people must nettle with those archenemies of the Keimblic. No Republican or Democrat ever perpetrated such an outrage against the Monarchists, who continue to provoke plots backed with nmplo financial support. Tho murderers aro paid and protected by them.’’ Dr. in a voico of auger, concluded: “Gentlemen of the Right, tho methods you have practised until now cannot bo allowed to continue!” The utterance evoked great enthusiasm.

AN ABLE MINISTER BRITISH. PREMIER’S TRIBUTE. LONDON, June 25. Mr Lloyd George, speaking in a Welsh Baptist Chapel, said Dr. Rathenau was one of the ablest Ministers in Europe. He was doing his best to restore good relations between his country and the other nations which had been wronged. “That is why he was murdered.” Mr Lloyd George expressed tho deopest horror at the outrage. He trusted that Germany would not suffer from the wrong the assassins had inflicted upon her. GERMANY AND THE WAR HOW RATHENAU SAW THINGS. Reuter’s T.'lp-rnrn. NEW YORK, June 24. Mr Hawkins, a New York journalist, interviewed Dr. Rathenau a year ago. The statement was given him on condition that it was not published till after his death. “Cowardice caused the war,” said Dr. Rathonau. “Tho Kaiser rattled his sword until he -liad frightened himself and all his Ministers out of their normal judgment. Herr von Bothmann Holweg and tho Ministers sat all night in fear and trembling, hoping and praying that tho Czar would succumb to tho terms of the ultimatum, and they would escape tho disaster into which cowardice had led them. The policy of frightfulnesa was a policy of cowardice. It was tho policy of a man afraid, who makes a great noise in the effort to frighten his onemy, hoping that ho may avoid fighting. All Germany know this, and there is no danger of tho Kaiser over returning to Berlin. Tho German people are for ever cured of Royalty.”