GERMAN ELECTIONS.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume L, Issue 16423, 6 May 1924, Page 5

GERMAN ELECTIONS.

SOCIALISTS RETAIN LEAD' AFTER HEAVY LOSSES. NATIONALISTS MAY BE DECIDING FACTOR, (Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (Reuter’s Telegram.) BERLIN, May 4. The first election results announced lat© this evening do not indicate how the general voting went. Eighty-five per cent, of the electorate polled in some districts. Huge crowds are parading the streets and thousands are assembled at points where the returns arc thrown on a screen. :

A Cologne telegram says the election was devoid of excitement. Voting followed religious rather than political lines. The only noticeable activity displayed was amongst the Social Democrats and the People’s Freedom Party, the latter’s slogan being “Down with the Jews!”

Sufficient, election results are available to indicate roughly the constitution of the new Reichstag. Socialists lost from 50 to 60 seats, chiefly to Communists, but nevertheless remain the strongest party with about 110 deputies, compared', with 170 before the election. German Nationals are the second largest, with some 90 seats, a gain of 20 to 23. The Communists have 45 to 50, an increase of 30 to 35. The relative position of other parties is still uncertain, as numerous results are yet to come. The Extreme Nationalists will probably secure about twenty compared with three in the last Reichstag. The form of the new Government is not quite clear at present, but there is evidence that the German. Nationals will be tile deciding factor.

GOVERNMENT CIRCLES CONFIDENT.

CARDS WELL PLAYED,

ACCEPTANCE OF EXPERTS’ RE. PORT.

(The Times.) (Received: May 6, 11 a.m.) LONDON, May 5. The Times’ Berlin correspondent says: Polling passed' off without serious incident. The gravity of the issue appeared to be amply recognised by a great majority of the electoral, and there was very heavy polling. The experts’ report played, a big part in the later stages of the Government campaign ; in fact it became the main issue from the moment the Government officially advocated acceptance. . Since then Government speakers, especially Stresemann, used! hardly any other argument to ensure their return. cards are considered to have been so well played that Government circles display some confidence'with regard to the probable result. The Nationalists have been shaken somewhat in their faith, that they could secure a big majority for the policy of, resistance. The loss of Helfferieh at a critical point in the campaign meant a great deal to them: Since then they have floundered hopelessly owing to lack of competent leadership. Their few remaining prominent men failed to offer any alternative to the Government’s new policy.