THE ELECTIONS IN GERMANY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17532, 25 January 1919, Page 6

THE ELECTIONS IN GERMANY.

The situation in Germany assumes a new phase now that elections have been successfully held throughout the whole country for the return of represents tives who will form a constituent National Assembly. It was the aim of the Spartacusians, the German exponents of Bolshevism, to render the elections abortive. But their timely defeat at Berlin by the forces of the Government averted this danger, and, beyond an attempt at sporadio interference and the wrecking of a few polling booths, the Bolshevist element seems to have failed signally to prevent an orderly expression of the will of the German people through the ballot-box. The results of the elections are sufficiently complete to' admit of the effect of the. verdict being definitely known. The German people pronounced unequivocally against the forces of anarchy. The Spartacusians have, for all their clamour, failed to move, except to antagonism and distrust, the great masses of the population. The estimate that upwards of forty million persons must have recorded their votes at the elections ma -1 * probably be discounted very considerably j but it seems dear that the German people are generally disposed to give the Ebert Government an opportunity to carry through the constitutional reforms which it has projected. It is reported that the Majority SocirHst Party and its supporters have captured 65 per cent, of the seats. The bulk of the remaining seats have been captured by candidates of the old. Centre Party, while the Democrats, whatever they may now stand

for, secured a fair, and the Independent Socialists, who are identified with the extremists, a numerically insignificant representation. It is suggested, no doubt correctly, that tho Majority Socialists will be able to count upon the support of tho Centre Party in their efforts to form a Government with a of popular support. Thero is at all events no ostensible reason why the result of the elections should not be interpreted as promising a prospect of the early establishment of a stable Government. The moderating forces of education and social organisation seem to have made themselves felt, and the Spartacusian taunt that the Government has secured but a -Pyrrhic victory is rather lacking in point. The elections represent an important step on Germany's part towards the goal of democratic government and its attainment through a peaceful evolutionary process. The' next step will devolve upon the Constituent Assembly, to which will be assigned the task of framing a new constitution for the country. Tne principal features in the draft constitution have now been • indicated. They suggest that a liberal constitution is to bo for a country that has hitherto had no real experience of government by the people for tie people. It is contemplated that the German Empire shall become a federation of ten republics, with .an elected president. The situation is profoundly interesting. It is nothing less than the re-birth of a nation that is taking place in Germany, and the world at large cannot affect to be indifferent to the outcome.