The Daily News THURSDAY, DECEMBER 4, 1930. GERMAN POLITICS.

Taranaki Daily News, 4 December 1930, Page 8

The Daily News THURSDAY, DECEMBER 4, 1930. GERMAN POLITICS.

The trend of German politics is of such vital importance to the peace of the world that it is only to be expected that universal attention should be attracted to the proceedings in the new Reichstag. The position of parties as disclosed by the recent elections indicated that although the Government might be—and as subsequent events proved was actually—saved by the Socialists for the time being, the crisis was not ended, only postponed. It was forecasted that the country would be faced by exactly the same situation in December as it was in October for the following reasons: “Without the Socialists, the Bruening Government could not find a majority; there was no alternative Government, because there was no other group, of parties that could both co-operate and find a majority; the Government was determined in any case to carry out its so-called financial reforms, constitutionally or unconstitutionally; if the Socialists fought against it, then it must either resign or govern by a coup d’etat; Germany would be ruled by a kind of bureaucratic directory without Parliament — in other words, a dictatorship; a directory could hardly outlast the carrying out of the, reform policy of the Government.” The parties of the Right, which are antidemocratic, would obviously wish to make a directory emerge into a dictatorship of a more permanent kind. The Socialists (who stand alone, for the Communists would rather see a Fascist than a Socialist victory) would wish to bring about a return to constitutional rille, perhaps by forming a Coalition Government themselves. In that event'the struggle for and against German democracy would reach an acute stage, the outcome of which, time alone would reveal. It was to defend the German democracy that the Socialists saved the Government, but it. is recognised there are limits beyond which these Socialists, who, after all, are a Labour party and by far the . largest of all German, parties, will not go. That country, like most others, has its Labour ~ problem, and it is understood tlie Socialists intend to prepare legislation calculated to promote the interests of the ; working classes. According to the news from Berlin appearing in yesterday’s issue, the forecast of events likely to take place this month appears to be justified. Relying upon the fears of the political parties relative to the intentions of the Hitlerites, and realising that a defeat of the Government would endanger Parliamentary control'' and render a Fascist dictatorship possible, President Hindenburg and Dr. Bruening, head of the Government; have risked a hostile vote, and the President has signed a decree ' promulgating finance measures for' which the Government found it impossible to obtain a Parliamentary majority. Those who merely judge the importance of events by means of superficial observation will be probabjy very much at sea when endeavouring to comprehend the new situation in Germany and all its, possibilities. There are so many complex problems to unravel, and so many tactical moves possible, that the task of anticipating results is beyond the power of ordinary mortals. One of the most significant official appointments made in recent times was that of Herr Karl Severing as Prussian Home Secretary. He began life as a workman and is said to be one of the few German Socialist leaders who are spoken of both with affection and admiration by the German working class. What is more is the fact that he is a “fighting man,” and that fact, just at this time of possible crisis, should have a very great moral effect. In the German Republic’s most critical years, especially in the autumn of 1923, when the. situation was as menacing as it is at the present juncture, it was Herr Severing who, by building up a Republican bureaucracy and. a Republican police force, did more than any man, with possibly one exception, to save the liberty of the German people. From an international point of, view* it is well for the Germans to work out their own salvation, but above all that the arts of peace should be cultivated instead of the arts of war. The particular brand of Government chosen is not sb much of importance as the policy adopted in relation to world affairs. The Germans have an opportunity such as they never previously enjoyed of being contented and prosperous, and in order to i*Sap the full benefit of that opportunity they would be wise to refrain from political strife and do all in their power to promote good government and put down extreme action. It is of no avail for the Socialists to save the present Government if the Country is to be plunged into a chaotic state by party warfare, so that tlie sooner the crisis is ended the better it will be.