The Daily News FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 1931. GERMAN POLITICS.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 February 1931, Page 6

The Daily News FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 1931. GERMAN POLITICS.

For some time past there have been so many sensational happenings that events in Germany are likely to have escaped that close attention usually accorded to the political affairs of that country. A cablegram sent from Berlin on Wednesday is, however, calculated once more to focus attention upon the trend of events in that country, inasmuch as the sensational exodus of the Fascists from the Reichstag indicates the prospect of an increase in their activities, a? well as the possibility of an upheaval in the not distant future- It was evident as soon as the returns from the last general election were made public that German democracy was in danger, and it would seem from later developments that the danger is so real that Gerinan democracy can hardly he said to exist any longer, though the situation is one in which it can be restored. The present struggle is regarded as one of the greatest importance, although, it is usually underrated because almost all German news comes from Berlin, where of late there has been nothing so conspicuous as the passivity of the Left, but that may soon come to an end. Amongst the workers in Berlin there is said to be a growing realisation of the Fascist danger, of the danger that the Nazis are making a bid for power, not by open insurrection, which is the Communist way and dooihed to fail, but by entering the Governipent, and $o getting a foothold inside the fort in the hope that they may be able to attack simultaneously from within and from' outside. The tactics of the Nazis are something like Communist cell tactics, only conceived with far greater imagination and realism: the cell is being formed in the German and Prussian Governments by normal constitutional procedure, and then, when the cell is there, the rank and file will, if need be, advance ih concentric attacks, possibly preceded by armed shock troops. It is said that German republican democracy is passing from the defensive to the offensive, and that authority has largely failed, being able only to assert itself within certain limits, and beyond those limits being in a state of latent civil war.' Such a statement may be rather propaganda than fact, but there may be good grounds for belief that in many provincial towns the ardour and enterprise of the Nazis are manifesting signs of burning among the Socialists, the result being that the Nazis have to hold meetings at their own peril. It would, therefore, seem that an active anti-Fascist movement has been called to life by the Fascist menace. The issue is essentially one between the . Nazis and the Socialists. What has for years been apparent may be said to be now quite clear —namely, that a revolutionary movement in Germany would sweep over the heads of the Communists. Seemingly

that is what is already happening, for there is certainly a definite struggle proceeding between two great national factions —Nazis and Socialists, Fascists and antiFascists. Here may be envisaged both the situation and the danger. What is of greater importance is the fact that the Socialist masses of Germany fully realise the serious nature of affairs at last, and their counter operations have commenced. According to information received from Berlin a few weeks ago tfie Socialists were not only holding the fort, but had begun to make sallies against the beleaguering Nazis, and it is said that no one can yet tell whether these operations have started in time, or whether they are too late. It is worthy of special note that the Nazis’ spectacular exit from the Reichstag was the outcome of sweeping Parliamentary reforms in order to accelerate business and curb the efforts of orators whose obvious intention is propaganda. In these days of keen.party politics whereby Governments are at times kept in power by minorities, there is . far too much propaganda and far too little business is transacted- The exodus will, however, enable the Government to proceed with, its Parliamentary work. At the same time it may be expected that the Nazis will now devote all their energies to the task of overthrowing the government, so as to enable them to abrogate the laws passed by the Reichstag in their voluntary exile. The spectacle presented is not flattering to German evolution, though as a political burlesque it has its points, among which is the object lesson of danger involved in sacrificing the best interests of the country to party conflicts.