AUTOCRATIC RULE

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 17916, 21 October 1932, Page 3

AUTOCRATIC RULE

POWERS OF PRESIDENT GOVERNMENT’S MILITARISM LONDON, October 11. It is a question whether tho courteous, friendly, and often reasonable German people have the Government they deserve. says the Berlin correspondent ol the Times. Certainly, lie adds, tliey have got ifio government they desire. The era of government by decree, culminated in an autocracy representing narrow Nationalist. Monarchist, militarist, landowning and industrial interests. without roots in the hearts of tlie people, who arc distrustful, though inbred discipline may rally them to these masters. Germany will continue to he governed by President Ilindeiilnirg’s signature, and llie licicbswclir —unchallengeable union of pen and sword—until the Reichstag comes to heel or produces an alternative. President Ilindeubiiig is Only described as the first elected King of Germany, lie permits nobody to make decisions for him. therefore it is di'licult to forecast developments, but il is believed that another dissolution will lead to open dictatorship. The Government’s militarism is undoubted. Critics declare, that its legimentingi of youth is aimed at _ reestablishing the power of the military caste. Tlie appointment of officer's and ex-officers of the army to the police force is also significant.

The large body of opinion antagonistic to remilitarisation is not organised and is without leaders. No public man or official dare parade pacifism. A preacher at a recent Nazi service even omitted the words: “Blessed are the peacemakers” from tho Beatitudes.