The Daily News FRIDAY, AUGUST 12, 1932. GERMANY’S UNREST.

Taranaki Daily News, 12 August 1932, Page 6

The Daily News

FRIDAY, AUGUST 12, 1932. GERMANY’S UNREST.

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The issue of a new emergency decree by President von Hindenburg suggests that political unrest in Germany is still a serious matter. It is a drastic decree the President has signed, authorising the death penalty not only for high treason but also in the case of arson, the use of explosives, damage done to the railways, and even resistance to State authority. This is a very wide field to cover, yet the decree goes still farther in providing that the penalty for the mere possession of arms during a period when disorder occurs and life is lost shall be summary execution by shooting. Participation in demonstrations and disorders is prohibited, incitement to violence is to be visited with severe punishment, and the minimum penalty for anyone who injures a police officer is to be imprisonment for ten years. Emergency decrees are not a new experience for Germany. Dr. Bruening had resort to them on several occasions, and Herr von Pajpen had to make use of special regulations to curb the violence of the election campaign a few weeks ago. The decree prohibiting political meetings is still in force, but it has not succeeded in preventing acts of terrorism since the polls were taken, and the persistence of outbreaks is, of course, the reason for the far more strenuous measures now adopted. The ill-feeling which has been evident since the general election must be attributed almost entirely to Herr Hitler’s followers, the Nazis. They went to the polls buoyed up with high hopes, and the results disappointed them sorely. They had visualised a Nazi Government in office as the result of a majority vote in the Reichstag, but they find themselves with the largest party, but lacking the expected majority. The Hitlerites,, actually are little nearer office than they were before the polling, and for the disappointment of their hopes they blame the Communists. Their feeling is indicated by Herr Hitler’s serious suggestion that .the Government should rid the Reichstag of the Communists by outlawing them and his equally serious demand that the Nazis should be permitted to carry arms. Had Herr Hitler succeeded in gaining power by constitutional means he would have endeavoured to impose his will on Germany by the methods of a dictator, and the Communists would have been in for a very bad time. He cannot now become a dictator, but his followers have been trying to make life unpleasant for the Communists, and the civil disorder resulting has reached such dimensions that the President has had to step in with his emergency measures. These would appear to be directed chiefly against the Hitlerites, though not by any means designed to drive them out of politics. The President, indeed, though he has never shown any sympathy with the Nazi programme, seems anxious that the Hitlerites should play a part in national politics. While he has vetoed a proposal that Herr Hitler should become Chancellor and desires the continuance of the nonparty Government, he is reported to be contemplating the reinforcement of the Cabinet by the appointment of several Nazi Ministers, to be chosen by the President himself. This seems a curious idea, yet it may be justified by the present position of the political parties in Germany. Herr von Papen, the present Chancellor, represents the Conservative Centre Party, the foundation of the existing Government and its predecessor. The Centre Party is able to hold together the Middle group in the Reichstag, but cannot govern without assistance from either the Left or the Right. Dr. Bruening as Chancellor relied upon the Social Democrats for support, and it is believed that the real reason for his dismissal by the President was that he was inclined to permit the ideas of the Socialists to exercise too great an influence upon his policy. With the other great party of the Left, the Communists, he had, of course, no sympathy, though he found their help very useful against the Nazis, who are by far the strongest party on the Right. Herr von Papen is appreciably less moderate than his predecessor, and is not at all likely to concede anything to the Socialists in return for their goodwill. It is therefore natural that he should look for some kind of alliance with the Right, which since the election has consisted almost entirely of Nazis, and that this would seem to be sound tactics is indicated by the results of the various elections held in Germany in recent months. There has been a very marked popular movement away from the Socialists and the Communists and a swing towards the Right. The motive probably has been rather economic than political, Herr Hitler’s conservatively nationalist policy having appeared to offer some prospect of relief from the present difficulties. The natural response to the expression of public opinion would be the establishment of closer relations between the Centre and 'the Right, and President von Hindenburg is shrewd enough to

realise this, hence his desire to give the Nazis a minor share in the responsibilities of the Government. But the President intends them to understand that if they are to enjoy the rights of office they must behave themselves. The emergency decree is a very plain warning that the Government is determined to insist upon the maintenance of law and order, and its promulgation is timely.