New-York tribune., 1921-09-23
Socialists v ote
For Coalition to
Save Germany
Government Reconstruction
to Take In All Parties
Except Extreme Right
and Left Is Proposed
TO Crush Reactionaries
Erzberger Assassination Has
Had the Effect of Driving
the Republicans Together
By Joseph Shaplen
BIZ Wireless to Tho Tribune

Copyright, 1871, New York Tribune Inc
BERLIN, Sept. 22.--The reconstruc-
tion of the German government to take
in all the middle parties, from the
Majority Socialists to the German
Peoples party, thus giving the country
coalition Cabinet, is virtually as
sured by the adoption Of a resolution
by the Majority Socialists, meeting at
Goerlitz, in favor Of entering a coali-
tion. The Majority Socialist press
sees this move as the only way Of
preventing civil war in Germany aris-
ing out of the immeasurably acute
economic and financial situation. The
vote on the resolution was CT to 90.
This coalition, to be known as "the
government Of the middle" looks to
the linking up of all the parties except
the Reds and the extreme reaction
aries. Heretofore the Majority Social
lists have refused to take any part in
ministry in which the German Peo-
pies party was represented. The vote
at Goerlitz, however, alters this stand
and makes possible the association Of
these two parties under certain con-
ditions.
Wlrth May Retire
Speculation on the personnel of the
Cabinet that will result from the ex-
pected change in the government is
already beginning. According to some
reports, which, however, must be taken
with reservation, DR.. Gustav Strese-
mann, Peoples party leader, is to be-
come, Foreign Minister in place of DR..
Friedrich Rosen, who will be sent to
n nrn ot ALol I.
former place at The Hague. Reports
IN some circles are that Chancellor
Wirth is to retire and that his place is
to be taken by Paul Loebe the Social
ist president of the Reichstag. The
government, it is learned, is particu-
larly anxious to bring Stresemann and
Walther Rathenau together in the
Cabinet
The possibility of such coalition
was regarded as slight prior to the
assassination Of Matthias Erzberger
the Centrist leader, but that crime has
mad the effect of driving all the re-
publican forces together, and the Social
Democrats are seeking ways and means
Tor the cooperation of all elements
which are willing to vow allegiance to
the new German constitution and stand
behind the republic.
lists laid down two cardinal stipula-
tions for the entrance Of the Socialists
into the larger political coalition;
namely. that the Peoples party declare
definitely its allegiance to the repub-
lie and that the government under
take wide democratization Of the
present governments personnel by the
elimination of reactionary judges, Of
ficials and employees.
Nationalists Fight Coalition
The Nationalists have begun cam
paign in their newspapers to disrupt,
the plans for coalition. The Com.
regard the proposal as a
union of the Socialists with Hugo
Shines" The Independent Socialists.
who also are left out, predict that the
plan will fail.
The "Kreuzzeitung," the "Deutsche
Tageszeitung" and the rest Of the Ma
tionallst organs are beside themselves
with rage over the decision of the So
cialists, fearing the obviously COM
plete political isolation which such a
coalition would mean to the whole
Junker class.
All the most prominent leaders at
Goerlitz urged the adoption of the
coalition program, especially Eduard
Bernstein, former Chancellor Herman
Mueller, Philip Scheidemann and Her
man Molkenbuhr. That some sort of
understanding already exists between
the Peoples party and the Socialist
leaders on the reconstruction of the
present government is evidenced in
the statement being made almost daily
by Stresemann that his followers are
seeking basis Of agreement with the
Socialists in order to widen the gov-
ernments basis and thus bring