The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-12-09
GERMANY DRIFTS
IN POLITICAL FOG
Government Which Demands
National Assembly Has
Popular Support.
BERLIN COUNCIL SHAKY
Eisner's Position in Bavaria
Liable to Be Upset-Sep-
aratiOn Opposed.
Specioi Co6is Despatch to Tar srS from the
London Times Ssrricf.

Speciol Cdbs Despatch to Tar srs from tie
London Times SerricS.
Copyright 1918: all rights restrted.
STOCKHOLM, Dec. Political cur
rents in Germany are no confused it
is aifficult thing to get a clear view
OF the whole situation. Certain facts
have been steadily emerging from the
fog Of revolution and summary Of
the main lines OF the situation now
seems possible.
There appears TO be four main fac
tors:
First. the Government, which de-
sires a meeting Of the national consti-
tutional assembly at the earliest pos
sible moment, demand which I'M
questionably has behind 1t the mass OF
the German people.
Second, the executive committee of
the Berlin Workmens and Soldiers
Council. which almost exclusively rep
resents the minority OF Socialist work
men in Berlin, does not enjoy the con-
fidenCe of the soldiers or ever the gar
rison 1t is Bolshevist. since II desires
a prolonged dictatorship by the prole-
tariat, and owing TO its tactical posi-
ton as ostensibly the most represen-
tative executive body in the capital It
has hitherto enjoyed an influence dis
proportionate TO its deserts.
kurt Eisner's Jockeying.
Third. there Is Kurt Fisher of Mu-
Mich, who for the moment controls the
policy of Bavaria, whose ruling motive
seems to be separatism. When Berlin
appeared to be turning in favor of
Bclshevism he declared for the ma
tional assembly. Now that the power
OF the Berlin executive committee ap-
parently is on the wane he has
declared for BolsheviSm.
Saturday he declared that for the
purpose OF consolidating the Socialist
republic for a long time to come the
Soviets must retain the chief power.
The explanation OF Eisner's position
is that he personally aspires to play
the leading role in the German revo-
luton and hopes TO succeed in first
forming a combination of southern
States against iIuesld Oii any AVAIL
able programme. His position is I'M
certain. and il seems doubtful if he
long will remain an important factor
even in Bavaria. The general feeling
against Separation. which is founded
on economic necessities familiar to
every educated workman, probably
will be too strong for him.
Attitude of Soldiers.
Fourth, there are the soldiers who
are either still on the various fronts or
on their way home and who appear al
most unanimously to favor the Gov
eminent and the immediate calling OF
a national assembly.
AS far as II is possible to Judge
there is practically no division Of opin-
ion on this subject among the SOL
diers' councils representing the armies
on the western front. The general
sentiment is in favor of order at all
costs and the possibility of returning
to peaceful homes and not to towns
and villages torn by revolution with
a prospect OF an indefinite period OF
disorganization and ferment
On the eastern front the anti Boil
shevik feeling seems still stronger. It
is significant that the Russian Boil
sheviki themselves in an official COM
who are still formally and sometimes
actively opposing their troops along
the line of demarkdtion