GERMANY LOSES ITS PRESIDENT

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LI, Issue 16674, 2 March 1925, Page 5

GERMANY LOSES ITS PRESIDENT

DEATH OF HERR EBERT. SUDDEN TERMINATION TO ILLNESS., DIFFICULT POLITICAL PROBLEM. (Eiec- Tel. Copyright— United Press Assn.i (Reuter’s Telegram.) BERLIN, Feb. 28. Tlie death has occurred of President Ebert. His death came as a great shock to the people in view n liie previous night’s bulletin that his condition was improving. The sudden turn for the worse was due to aggravation of peritonitis which occurred at five o’clock this morning, at the moment when the patient’s vitality was at its lowest ebb. He relapsed into a coma and never regained consciousness. His wife and children and Secretary of State Meisner were at his bedside. BERLIN, March 1. There is general mourning for tho death of President- Ebert. He was an ex-saddler, whose dignity and tact during tho six years of his Presidency enhanced his prestige, despite recent attacks by reactionaries. Ebert's death confronts the- country with a difficult problem. The Presidential elections arc due in. April or May. The position is- extraordinary owing (o tho failure of the founders of the Constitution to provide proper legal machinery for the election of a successor, though they provided for Ebert’s Presidency till the end of next June, an interregnum being necessary till the Reichstag passes a law providing for Hie election of a President by plebiscite. The Reuter correspondent adds that., contrary to the above- interpretation of the German Constitution,- it is stated that probably an election of President by plebiscite will he- field witlm six weeks under an article of the Constitution which necessitates a candidate securing iroro than half the votes polled before lie is elected. Thus a further election is necessary in the event of a candidate failing to get. an absolute majority over all the others. EVENT OF FIRST IMPORTANCE. GREAT EXCITEMENT IN BERLIN. (Reuter's Telegram.) (Received March 2, 10 a.m. LONDON, March. I. Ebert’s death is recognised throughout Europe as an event of first importance. The newspapers in London and Paris give great prominence to it. The King and M. Doiimcrgitc telegraphed condolences. It is reported from Berlin there is great excitement. All places of amusement have been closed and the streets are crowded. There is evoijy sign of (lie passing of a really great figure in history. AN HONORED MEMORY. (Australian and N.Z- Cable Association.) (Received March 2, 10 a.m.) LONDON, March 1. The Daily Express says: “It is strange to contrast tho days when Ebert was described as an ignorant saddler, a, stop-gap president, and ridiculed on account, of his uncouth appearance. The period of the presidency revealed him as ‘one of Germany's wisest and mostrespected sons. It appears lie did! not work as a saddler after 23. He took to journalism and politics and revealed remarkable qualities, steadfast purpose, tact, and statesmanship, retaining the domestic simplicity with which he set an example to the whole nation.” The Observer’s Berlin correspondent describes his deatli in office, leaving such an honored memory a,s a corner stone in the consolidation of the German Republic. Another view, however, is that Ebert's passing releases forces which he successfully restrained. Monarchism, which is far from a negligible quantity, ever waiting upon circumstance, is already bent on seizing opportunity. Moreover the repercussion of France is inevitable, as instanced by a telegram from Paris within an hour of Ebert’s death, saying consideration of questions regarding security were now suspended pending the election of the new President.