The Daily News TUESDAY, AUGUST 2, 1932. GERMANY’S ELECTION.

Taranaki Daily News, 2 August 1932, Page 6

The Daily News

TUESDAY, AUGUST 2, 1932. GERMANY’S ELECTION.

OFFICES: NEW PLYMOUTH, Currie Street. STRATFORD, Broadway. HAWERA, High Street. _

Tlie polling for the Reichstag which took place throughout Germany on Sunday was the climax to an admittedly difficult period in German political, life. Though Marshal von Hindenburg was reelected President nearly four months ago by a substantial majority, the figures revealed an enormous gain of strength on the part of the Nazis, and their success was soon translated into a threat of trouble. Nazi parades became so dangerous that the President three days after his reelection issued an emergency decree dissolving the “storm troops,” and Dr. Bruening, a strong man, proceeded to carry it out. On May 30, however, the President, who was obviously under the. influence , of the Junkers, refused the Chancellor’s request for additional powers, virtually dismissing him, and Herr von Papen was promoted to the head of the Government. Von Papen’s policy was to conciliate the Nazis, and a fortnight after his accession to office the emergency restrictions were relaxed, the President signing a decree which authorised the Nazi “storm troops,” or “brown shirts,” to wear uniform, though the possession of arms was still prohibited. During the past six weeks reports of disturbances have been rather frequent. In Berlin, for instance, thousands of Nazis celebrated the thirteenth anniversary of the Treaty of Versailles with a bellicose demonstration, many free fights with Communists taking place. It was stated at the time that what was happening in Germany was “not civil war, but a degeneration of party canvassing into ruthless rowdyism, in which firearms are frequently used.” The message ou the subject added that the

wear and tear on the nation’s nerves was most serious. Since then, of course, Herr von Papen’s breach with the Prussian Government has been a means of increasing the unrest, and throughout the political campaign there was a good deal of violence, serious street fighting being reported on several occasions. It was in a troubled atmosphere that the German voters went to the polls on Sunday, and the result seems to have been a very unsatisfactory election. Precise details are not yet available, but the figures which are given indicate that the new Reichstag will be as motley and disjointed an assemblage as the old. As in most Continental countries, it is difficult to clarify the position because parties are numerous and the lines of demarcation are seldom finely drawn. Since .the election of 1930 the Centre Party has been the basic element of the Government, the last two Chancellors, pr. Bruening and Herr von Papen, being members of it, though their policies vary considerably. The Government has had the support of the Social Democrats, and therefore has outnumbered the Nazis, or National Socialists, but it is also opposed by the Communists, a fairly substantial party, _ which is at enmity with the Nazis. Of tha 577 seats in the last Reichstag 143 were held by the Socialists, 107 by the Nazis, 77 by the Communists and 68 by the Centre Party, the remaining 182 seats being distributed among nearly a dozen different parties, whose representation varied from as many as 40 down to two or three members. The Nazis and the Communists being alike unable to command, sufficient assistance from other groups to dispossess the Government, it remained in office, but for twelve months past the Government’s tenure has been so precarious that it has been afraid to face the Reichstag, depending entirely for its power to function upon the system of emergency decrees signed by the President without reference to the people’s representatives. The present indications seem to be that the polling has not materially altered tfie position. _ The estimates which, have been issued forecast the doubling of the Nazis’ strength, but at the expense of the small moderate parties of the groups which constitute the Middle and the Right in the Reichstag. The Social Democrats and the Communists, the two parties of the Left, are still forces to be reckoned with, and the Centre Party, whose name denotes its political position, has perhaps gained a few seats. The Centre, Party and the Social Democrats together will probably outnumber the Nazis, and on most issues the Communists would reinforce them in a struggle with the largest party. It is suggested thht the final result of the election will be a condition, of stalemate: the Government will be no stronger than before. It is an unfortunate prospect. Herr Hitler and his Nazis are not only extreme nationalists but also militarists. ' One of their principal aims is to carry on the military traditions of Germany, and as a means of keeping themselves in practice, as it were, they delight in baiting the Communists, thus being a perpetual menace to law and order. A Nazi Government, of course, could only be viewed as a calamity by the rest of Europe, for its narrow nationalism would be a grave source of weakness at the present time. Herr von Papen’s Government is entirely sound in its appreciation of the urgent need for international co-operation, as its attitude at Lausanne and its adherence to the new European Pact have shown. It is to be hoped that the final result of the election will be the maintenance of the present policy, and it is to be regretted that those who stand for it have not obtained more generous support from the electorate.