BIG “YES” VOTE

Wairarapa Age, 21 August 1934, Page 5

BIG “YES” VOTE

HITLER GETS NINE-TO-ONE MAJORITY. VIRTUALLY COMPULSORY POLLING. SURPRISING PROPORTION OF INVALID PAPERS. BERLIN, August 20. The revised provisional final figures of the Hitler plebiscite are:—• “Yes,” 3'8,279,5'14; “No,” 4,287,898; invalid, 871,056. Ninetyfour per cent, of the electorate voted. In Greater Berlin 71.4 per cent, voted “Yes,” and 16.6 per cent. “No” or invalid. Twelve per cent, abstained. The invalid' votes are considered surprisingly large. It is believed that the greater portion came from timid people fearful of voting “No.”' During the polling the city presented a familiar scene with flags everywhere and Storm Troopers parading the streets on the occasion of the plebiscite.

The voting was virtually compulsory, patrols being sent out to fetch in laggard electors who were given cards after voting, enabling them to prove they had done their duty. Invalids were conveyed to booths in ambulances. Hundreds were transported at special rates across the frontiers of Poland, Holland and Czeeho-Slovakia. Others as far away as Constantinople and Hongkong boarded German vessels and recorded their votes outside the threemile limit. Ninety-six members of the late President Hindenburg’s staff at Neudeck voted “Yes.” Colonel Hindenburg, broadcasting said:—l am acting as my father would have wished when I call on the people to invest Herr Hitler as Reich President. OPPOSED ESTIMATES. NOTE OF WARNING OR VOTE OF CONFIDENCE. (Received Monday, 7 p.m.) * LONDON, August 29. The “News-Chronicle” says the most' impressive fact of the election is that four millions had the hardihood to vote against Hitler. The supineness with which German opinion, has yielded to intimidation is a grave menace to liberty throughout the world. There is evidence that this supineness at last is ending. . The “Daily Mail*’ says:— “The figures are an astonishing tribute to the personal prestige of Hitler. What use will he make of thisi vote of confidence?” ,i . LATEST FIGURES. OVER TWO MILLION FAIT.' - TO VOTE. (Received This Day, 0.2 a.m.) . BERLIN, August 20. The latest figures are:— “Yes,” 38,362,760; “No,” 4,394,654; invalid, 872,296; abstentions, 2,034,846. As the abstainers presumably are against Hitler and the majority of tjie invalid votes were papers deliberately spoiled, apparently over seven millions disapprove of Hitler.