Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1921-08-29
GERMANY ACTS
IN NEW CRISIS
Cabinet Meets to Discuss
Many Grave Problems, Fol-
lowing Erzberger's Killing

BERLIN Aug. 29.-Political con-
ditions, which during the past few
days assumed grave aspects, were
considered by the cabinet today.
President Ebert presided. The as
sassination of Matthias ErZberger.
last Friday, had complicated the sit
uation and the cabinet is believed to
find itself in serious predicament.
One feature which is troubling the
government is the attitude organized
labor supported by socialist and com
munist bodies, in demanding definite
suppression of activities and machi-
nations of the Pan-Germans.
This party has been active of late
holding battle anniversaries, steel
helmet" athletic meets, front stoop
reunions" and other affairs at which
Field Marshal Won Hindenburg, Cen
eral Ludendorff and other military
leaders have been present. These
functions have taken on the char
acrter of anti-republican manifesto
tons.
The government must decide
within the next few days whether it
will call the reichstag before Sep
tember 27, the date fixed for that
body to meet. There is a disposi-
ton on the part of Chancellor
Wirth not to take this action.
The government would be unable
to prevent debate in view of over
heated political atmosphere, ingen-
dered by the murder of Herr Err
berger.
1t is a foregone conclusion that
nationalists, If the reichstag could
convene, would promptly attack the
government because of acceptance
of paragraph 231, by which Ger
many and her allies accepted re-
sponsibility for the war.
Ratification of the treaty is be-
lieved certain through the vote of
the three coalition parties and the
independent socialists. which COM
mand PIT out of 469 votes in the
reichstag. This number would not
include the twenty-one votes con-
trolled by the Bavarian peoples
party which nominally is allied to
the clericals.
Chancellor Wirth also has not as
yet determined the final attitude OF
the German peoples party when the
treaty will come up in the relchstag.
During conversations with the chan
cellor leaders of the party promised
not to oppose the treaty, but the
death of Herr Erzberger is believed
to have given the situation new
complexion.
Although the Wirth cabinet may
count on a vote of confidence, If it
should be necessary, it realizes the
present hour is hardly opportune for
parliamentary activities In view or
the partisan acerbities which have
reached the whitehead stage in the
last three days. 1t is feared that the
political feeling If permitted to spend
it's fury in open session Of the reich
stag would promptly convert that
body into a veritable cockpit.
Meanwhile the fight over the
tragic death of Herr ErZberger is be-
ing waged with increasing venom In
party organs. The clerical newspa-
per Germania, supposed to be a par
agon of journalistic ethics, is being
sued by the Deutsche Tages Teitung
for libel because 1t included that
newspaper, the organ of the pan
Germans and the Agrarians. among
the syndicate of nationalist murder
ers."
Political observers believe it is not
unlikely that Chancellor Wirth. in
order to save his cabinet. may make
a shift to the left, for the purpose
of winning support of independent
socialists securing a more ample
founda ton for his minority ministry
and offsetting possible effection of
the German peoples party. This or
ganization under Gustav Streseman.
has already sharply resented charges
by the radicals that ii was respon-
sible with the natiOnalists for the as
sassination.
The government is about to under
go a decisive test in the reichstag in
connection with forthcoming tax
legislation, and its work is being in
creased by feeling over the Erzberger
episode.