The Waikato Times. With which Is Incorporated The Waikato Argue. MONDAY, JULY 25, 1932. PRUSSIAN DICTATORSHIP.

Waikato Times, Volume 112, Issue 18697, 25 July 1932, Page 6

The Waikato Times. With which Is Incorporated The Waikato Argue. MONDAY, JULY 25, 1932. PRUSSIAN DICTATORSHIP.

The distractions in Germany have culminated in a dictatorship for Prussia. This does not apply to ali Germany, but as Prussia comprises much more than half the Empire, it is sufficiently serious. Moreover it was until recently the rule for the Chancellor of the Empire to be the Prime Minister of Prussia, thereby increasing all the chances -of undue influence on the part of Prussia which already existed from the disproportion of sizes. The result of this move on the part of the Junkers it is impossible to foretell, but the possibilities are very great. We are told by cable that continual conflicts take place in the streets 'between Nazis and Communists, but it is safe to say that Communists are not the only people concerned. Many of those who oppose the Nazis are Republicans, but without any sympathy with Communists. The Junkers, who appear to be acting at present in conjunction with Nazis, are -well aware of tho odium that attaches to the title of Communists, and therefore brand all their opponents with the name. It is invariable in revolutions for the most extreme parties to replace the moderate parties, and now that the Junkers have started the fashion of revolutions we may see a counterrevolution in which Communists replace Socialists. Hitherto Germany has resisted Communism but anything is better than constant street-light-ing, and Communism may succeed from the exhaustion of its opponents If It is to be on the model of Soviet Russia it means the repudiation of debts, which would be the last blow for a world staggering under financial stress.

It Is difficult to believe that Junkers can continue’ in power, even if their present agreement with Nazis should last, and that is not probable. There is talk of the restoration of monarchy and as anything is possible now it may lake place, but there is no indication of any sort that it would add strength to the Government. Germany was undoubtedly in a desperate condition, but it cannot be said that Junkers have done anything to help. They have simply added one more distraction to those that already existed.

A further clanger Is that the South German States may secede from the Empire. They have ( no love for Junkers or A'azis. They represent in population over 20,000,000, which would ho a vast secession, hut there Is no prospect of their agreeing to combine. The particularist tendencies are strong in the German who is not a politically-minded being. If he had been lie would never "have consented to one man, even Bismarck being at the same time Chancellor of Germany and Prime Minister of Prussia. The distracted condition of Germany is the defence that will be put forward for Hie seizure of power by the reactionaries, it may serve ns a paragraph in proclamations, but. the world knows that the real reason is personal. The Junkers are large landowners, mainly in East Prussia. Their position has been undermined by extravagance, and triTy are ruined by the recent fall in pricos. Tliclr

estates are not worth the mortgages on them and Dr. Brifening proposed to take some of these estates over and subdivide them. Marshal von Ilindeahurg refused. Dr. Bruening resigned, and the Marshal called von Papen to office. It Is an effort on the part of estate owners to keep possession of (heir land which they cannot handle profitably, though small owners might do so. We snail have many references to the Gracchi, and their effort to settle returned soldiers on large estates. If history does not exactly repeat Itself, there is a sufficiently close copy in the present instance.

The reactions abroad to the Dictatorship arc likely to bo many. In France there may be mixed feelings; fear of Junkers and possible monarchy; hope of the South Got man States seceding. Poland, the restless nation, may consider a revolution to be justification for an attempt to seize Danzig and this would lead to war. If Junkerism ends in Communism those countries which have tried to help Germany may be heavy losers by default in payment of loan moneys. Even if Junkerism is not Immediately displaced, its existence will increase the anxiety felt by those who have invested or lent money to Germany to have it back again. Germany was living on credit, and a revolution is a rude shock to credit. Faith is felt in countries where the law is kept in an orderly manner, and not forcibly interrupted either by aristocrats or beggars. Financial depression certainly threatened political stability, but it was scarcely expected that the danger would arise amongst the aristocrats.