GERMAN UPHEAVAL.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XLV, Issue 12017, 20 March 1920, Page 5

GERMAN UPHEAVAL.

IJBW GOVERNMENT’S AIMS. taewjri» -mm* United Press Association—By Elec trio Telegraph—Copyright. Berlin, March 18 The new Chancellor informed British newspaper correspondents that he 'believed the Germans preferred a Republic. The new Government entertained monarchical views, but would support tho ■ constitutionThe Government would not reintroduce compulsory enlistment. It wanted peace at home and abroad. The Right Wing of the old National Liberals decided to support the new Government in view of its promise to hold elections within two months. Dr. Kapp’s efforts to induce the Independent Socialists to’ participate in the Government proved fruitless. DILPOMATIO CIRCLES ASTONISHED. The ending of the German coup d’etat astonished and puzzled diplomatic .circles. Apparently neither party is able to arouse enthusiasm in the general body of the people, whose attitude is one of utter lassitude and apathy. The new Government is also embarrassed by lack of support from experienced politicians, and the fact that the Independent Socialists are leading a general strike movement and forming Labour Councils throughout the country, particularly in the Essen region and Silesia. The Independent Socialists generally are opposed to both Kapp and Ebert, which perhaps is the most potent argument for the extraordln - ary alliance of revolutionaries and counter-revolutionaries. The compromise is a good bargain for Kapp’s party, as government by experts moans government by bureaucrats. A curious in the compromise is the setting up inside the Reichstag of a second chamber called the Chamber of Work, which is of an exclusively economic industrial character, and upon which Labour will sit with Capital and experts. The selection of an Imperial President by the plebiscite which has been arranged should result in the election of a popular general, such as Hindenburg. . L The counter-revolutionaries had the whole-hearted eupport of the troops, even in South The younger officers of 8000 regulars Id Berlin, and 20,000 militia who had been trained during the past year by Captain Kapp, strongly favoured resorting to force, as tney were convinced they had sufficient troops to break down all working class resistance, but tho threat of a general strike persuaded Kapp and his colleagues that it was better to compromise. GUARDING THE CROWN PRINCE. Amsterdam, March 18 Advices state that a destroyer has arrived at Wieringen to guard the ex-Crown Prince, who has inf ormed the police that he does not intend to flee in the present circumstances THE EBERT-KAPP AGREEMENT Paris, March 16 Details of the agreement between Ebert and Kapp are confined to a summary in a special edition of the Deutsche Allegemeine Zoitung, sold ir. Berlin on Monday moning. No comments of English correspondents have yet been received. According to a telegram from Berlin, Ebert cancelled an order for a general strike. Generals Marker and Groner were chiefly responsible for arranging the compromise. General Groner wrote an appeal to Hindenburg asking him not to support the Kapp-Luttwitz Government, which was impossible for Germany. Groner added that it would be dangerous if West and South Germany separated from the rest. When Ebert and Nosko approached General Marker, he pointed out the difficulty of his position. He only desired to maintain order and guarantee the people against famine, and he then got into communication with Berlin and assisted to secure a compromise.

KAPP’S EXPLANATION. Copenhagen, March 16 Dr. Kapp, in an official statement, attributes his resignation to the fact that Herr Bauer’s Government decided to carry out essential political demands made before the coup d’etat. Dr. Kapp therefore resigned executive power into the hands of the military commander-in-chief. FIERCE FIGHTING v —— Received March 20, 10 a m London, March 17 Latest telegrams via Copenhagen indicate that there were grave de* velopments and bloody fighting on Tuesday night at Spandau between soldiers and communists. Sixty five were killed and a large number wound ed. The position last night in Berlin ■was moat serious A general rising by Socialists is feared. The Independent Communists proclaimed a Republic, andjaent Kapp a list of their Ministry, together with an ultimatum. Kapp replied by declaring that martial law will be drastically enforced. The pickets throughout the city have been strengthened and all citizens must be indoors by nightfall. Hindenbnrg‘ assumed the role of peacemaker and telegraphed Kapp urging the withdrawal of troops and the dissolution of the new Government, provided early elections are held. Hindenbnrg sent Ebert a copy of the telegram. Earlier Berlin messages agreed that both the old and the new Governments h&ve most to fear from the renewal of Spartacist outbreaks. Kapp stated yesterday that he pnt aside negotiations with the old Government in order to concentrate against the Communists. His Government expected a' revolt immediately. Stuttgart telegrams, state that extreme Kadical*deveiopmentg have already begun "at Soliugen, Essen and elsewhere in the Rhineland. The Spartaoists are only, awaiting opportunity to seize power and declare a dictatorship. . «S ■ A Soviet has been established, in several'places, including Stuttgart. The Spartaoists are relying on the support of 200,000 Russian r prisoners

still in Germany. A violent agitation, in favour of a Soviet Republic and alliance -with Russia has begun in Berlin bjr the Independent Communists.” Yesterday’s trouble was originated by workmen charging the military who were marching in the Brunhenstrasse playing patriotic airs, several being killed or wounded. Another skirmish took place at Oharlottenburg, resulting in a number being killed or Wounded. Workmen at Strausberg, eastward of Berlin, disarmed the town militia.

The Spandau casualties were almost entirely confined to civilians. Fights in other parts of Berli n district continue, including the inner portion near the castle, where eight were killed and twelve wouh ded.. Paris, March 17 The French Charge d’Affaires has arrived at Stuttgart. He is instructed to maintain diplomatic relations with Baur’s Government. London, March 18

Messages from Berlin give further details of the events leading to Kapp’s, downfall. Members of the Imperial Council on Tuesday night demanded a conference with Luttwitz, who, in'a long speech, dealt with Germany’s political economic position, and finally admitted that Kapp had not succeeded in securing even the Conservative support on which he relied, and also failed to fill anv of the Ministries except Agriculture and Post Office. Employees of the latter immediately told Kapp’s nominee that they would not take\his order. The conference was still sitting when the Communists’ ultimatum arrived demanding immediate withdrawal of troops otherwise a Soviet would be proclaimed, upon which Luttwitz announced that he and the officers of the Reiohswehr were willing to fight the Communists under Bauer’s Government. Negotiations were resumed on Wednesday by representatives of the National Liberals, Centre, People’s, and Democratic Parties who accepted Kapp’l resignation at noon. Negotiatiofas con - tinned throughout the afternoon, and finally Luttwitz offered to resign, his suoeasdr, Yon Seekt, undertaking that the Iron Marine division would return to Doeberitz at the earliest where they would be demobilised. The National Assembly will probably return to Berlin in a few days. The radical reorganisation of the old Government, regardless of party which had begun before the coup d’etat, will be carried out speedily. Noske arrives in Berlin by aeroplane to-day to co operate in organising the position Kapp’s chief reason for his resignation was want of money, the State Bank refusing to pay the demands of the new Government Leaders of the Majority parties summoned to the conference in the Reichstag on Wednesday afternoon expected a provisional Government to be formed.

In the evening General Heeckt succeeded Luttwitz in command of the troops in Berlin, while the Baltic troops will be sent from the city. The Independent Social! st loaders have meanwhile issued a proclamation that the proletariat does not see the point of reorganising tho working men’s forces for tho beneti t of Ebert, and propose to secur e power for itself. Oohtin and Daeumig accordingly issued a proclamation of a Republic of Workmen’s Soldiers and Sailors Councils.

Fighting was still proceeding in the suburbs of Berlin at an early hour on Thnra ay morning. There was serious fighting in the Rhine and Westphalia districts, thirty being killed and seventy wounded. In Hagen two hundred were killed. In Dortmund district the workers seized Dortmund, and labourers at Leipsig erected barricades in the suburbs and advanced to the centre of the town where there has been fighting since Wednesday afternoon. Leaders of all Socialist parties, Democrats and Centre agreed to the National Assembly elections being held in June, and that the President be elected by the whole people. The;Trade Union Congress demands Noske’s resignation and Kapp’s punishment. Meanwhile Ebert ordered the Imperial Court at Leipsig to institute actions against Kapp, Luttwltz, Von Jagow, Admiral Trotha and Captain Bhrhardt. London, March 17. The streets in Berlin are brilliantly illuminated.at night as a precaution against ' a Communist outbreak. Trebitsch Lincoln has warned foreign journalists tnat it is perilous to frequent the streets at night time. The citv is quiet. A complete general strike continues. Aeroplanes hovered over the city all day long dropping proclamations exhorting the citizens to remain loyal to the old Government. Received March 20, 10 a.m. Berlin, March 17 It is reported that the Independent Socialists Cohen and Daenmig have formed a Communist committee of action with a view to establishing a Soviet Republic and a proletarian dictatorship. The committee sent an ultimatum to Kapp demanding the withdrawal of troops by to-night. Kapp agreed, provided an amnesty was granted. The Frankfurt Zeitnng states that Vice-Chancellor.Schaffer, who was Minister of Justice in Baur’s Cabinet, but sided with Kapp, has taken over the reins of Government from Kapp. Paris, March 17. Germans at Wiesbaden attacked two_.female typists attached to the French Mission, and one died of injuries.