Germany's Political Struggle

Southland Times, Issue 17962, 13 December 1918, Page 2

Germany's Political Struggle

CONFLICTING PARTIES. SUPPORTERS OF THE OLD REGIME. INCREASINGLY ACTIVE. (By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) LONDON, December 11. A Rotterdam correspondent states: The situation in Berlin shows unusual reactionary activity. The reactionaries have formed a National party which the Junkers and other Conservative elements have joined. The party pretends to support Ebert, but is really aiming to regain power. It professes to favour a republic, but really hopes to prevent the firm establishment of Republican principles. The party is becoming daring. Its journals freely declare they only support Ebert until the National Assembly is convoked. Similarly the Bourgeois party- has formed a “People’s Party,” which is mainly the old Centre party. It also has begun open attacks on Ebert. The majority of returning troops are generally striving to maintain constitutional government. They profess friendship for Ebert and urge the early summoning of the Constituent Assembly, but there is daily evidence that a large proportion, led by the officers, are really reactionary. This element is responsible for the bloodshed in Berlin during the week-end. Meanwhile the Berlin Workmen’s and Soldiers’ Council considers itself the supreme authority for which Ebert is merely the administrative functionary. Thus Berlin is almost an exact parallel to Petrograd in the Kerensky period. \ PROVOKING DISORDER. TO JUSTIFY ENTENTE INTERVENTION. NEW YORK, December 10. Mr Arno Dosch-Fleurot, writing from Berlin, says: It is the open wish of the Extreme Right to bring on such disorder throughout Germany that the Entente will be forced to send troops to occupy Berlin. By this they hope to cause a reaction which will result in a dictatorship and thus end the socialisation of the country. The “Reds” want a dictatorship by the proletariat. The Government’s situation at present is most serious, but the troops seem to be standing firm behind the Government. Regiments freshly arrived from the front on learning the efforts to overthrow the Ebert-Haase Government, decided to delay further demobilisation until the danger has passed. This action has given the Government a certain sense of security. RUSSIAN BOLSHEVIST’S COMPLAINT. MODERATES AND EXTREMISTS AGREE. COPENHAGEN, December 11. The Russian Soviet Minister, Stroebel, addressing a demonstration in Berlin, bitterly complained that reactionaries like Hjndenburg and his myrmidons were still in control of the military machine. The Prussian Minister of Instruction, speaking in Berlin, declared that if a National Assembly was not secured by the Socialist Majority it would be dissolved and a proletariat dictatorship established. A German wireless reports that prolonged deliberations between the Government and the executive of the Soviets resulted in an agreement for unanimous co-operation in the service of the revolution, acknowledging the Government’s exclusive right to renounce ideas of violently changing the Government. BRITAIN'S HUGE DEBT. CLAIM UPON GERMANY. LONDON, December 11. Mr Churchill, speaking at Dundee, dwelt on the gravity of the British financial situation which, however, he was confident we would courageously overcome. About sixsevenths of our debt was due to ourselves. We sent America £400,000,000 sterling in bullion and about £1,000,000,000 in American securities. Most of this sum was incurred on behalf of the Allies and Russia. We had not only lost the interest on the securities, but had to pay interest theieon to the British proprietors from whom the Government had taken them over. A strong Allied commission was inquiring in every direction regarding German assets which were capable of being distrained for the purpose of discharging the cost of the war. GERMAN RAIDERS’ VICTIMS. COPENHAGEN, December 11. Five hundred English-Americans have arrived at Aarhus, mostly crews of the Moewe’s and Wolf’s victims. They complain that they were driven from camp without food and suffered hardships before they reached the coast. THE PEACE CONGRESS. OPEN MEETINGS SUGGESTED. NEW YORK, December 10. The United Press correspondent on the George Washington stated that it is understood President Wilson favours having the Peace Conference open to the public and newspaper correspondents with facilities for discussing certain matters privately if necessary. THE ALLIES AND RUSSIA. KERENSKY’S COMPLAINT. NEW YORK, December 11. The United Press London correspondent interviewed M. Kerensky, who said England and France were seeking to impose another Brest-Litovsk treaty upon Russia. “I ask America,” he said, “ to protect Russia from her former Allies. Russia is now composed of a series of independent States, whose salvation lies in the formation of a Federation like the United States. England and France oppose calling the Russian Constituent Assembly, because it would restore Russia to her former international position. They have agreed to a division of spheres of influence in disintegrated Russia. President Wilson’s presence in Europe will perhaps prevent the brigandage. GENERAL NEWS. It is considered unlikely that Australians will form part ,of the army of occupation in Germany. The Express’s Rome correspondent states that President Wilson will arrive on December 11, and visit the Pope on December 23. The preliminary Allied Peace Conference is expected to start at the New Year. The Berliner Mittag Zeitung reports that the Duke and Duchess of Brunswick have fled to Gounden in Upper Austria. The Germans have already handed the British several thousand motors. Sherif Jeisul, the Arab generalissimo, has arrived in London to discuss Arab aspirations.