The New York herald., 1922-07-10
WIRTH GOVERNMENT
FACES CRISIS TODAY
Drastic Bill for Protection of
Republic Comes Up in
Reichstag.
NEW ELECTIONS FEARED
Plea for Moratorium for Two
Years Complicates Grave
Situation.
NEW ELECTIONS FEARED

Special Gable to THE NEW YosK HnlLp.
COPYRIGHT. 1929, By THE NEW Yosx HrzALp
New York Herald Bureau.
Berlin. July 0.
Collapse Of the German Government
is possible this week. After avoiding
crisis after crisis, 1t is face to face with
problem which calls for extreme
sacrifices.
Tomorrow the drastic bill aimed at
the monarchists, which provides for
sentence of death upon those who at
tack members of the Government or
plot the overthrow OF the republic, will
come before the Reichstag. favorably
reported by. the judiciary committee.
A violent division Is almost inevitable,
and the Cabinet may be forced to dis
solve Parliament.
Election Of new Parliament, pro-
vided for under the constitution within
sixty days, would be attended by the
bloodiest spectacle ever witnessed In
Germany. according to the predictions
of influential members of the several
political parties. Monarchists and
Democrats would be attacking one an
other and the possibilities of rioting
would be without limit. The summer
campaign would be long turmoil
Behind such party strife would be
the memory of the assassination Of
DR.. Walter Rathenau, standing as a
symbol OF the irreconcilability Of the
monarchist or nationalist factions.
Public Uninformed.
Because OF the lack of newspapers
due to the printers strike, the public
is uninforned of late developments
This is extremely unfortunate, as the
people. deprived Of accurate informa-
tion. accept the widest rumors
Alarmed by the panic in the money
market, they are magnifying the
danger and, hopelessly bewildered, are
ready for anything.
The bill to be reported by the judi
ciary committee of the Reichstag also
provides for a special tribunal to try
POheAOdi OtlCndCISp lOT lilc suppression
of publication Of anti-republican jour-
nails. and for penalties to be imposed
upon those taking part in demonstra-
tions hostile to the Government.
Another huge demonstration Is sched.
uled for Tuesday by the workers, So
cialists and Communists, the date be-
ing fixed so as to proceed according to
the nature of the Reichstag's actions.
II the penalty bill is acted upon favor
ably the manifestation will be one OF
rejoicing. In the face Of the bitter
enmity displayed by the nationallsts.
II any degree Of compromise Is made
with the opposition. there Is bound to
be a violent outbreak by the Socialists.
In either event the effect of the demon
stration is likely to seriously affect the
Government.
So drastic Is the bill as now prepared
that It requires a change in the constitu
tion, demanding two-thirds vote. which
is considered impossible. The more con.
servative leaders are hoping for modi
fication Of the bill: but that would ale
in consolidation Of the monarchist forces
Asks Two Years. Moratorium.
Germany will not meet the repara.
tions payments due July Is, and Is send
ing representative to Paris to ask for q
moratorium for two years on cash pay.
ments. The collapse of the mark. not
withstanding the fact that the Reichs
bank has flooded the market with foreign
currency in an effort to stabilize ex
change. has caused the reserve to sinh
below the level necessary to make pay
ments due.
Another blow to the Allies Is threat
ened In the imminent strike by the So
cial Democratic workers IN the Ruhl
Valley. which would stop the production
OF coal. Former President Stegerwalt
Of the Prussian Cabinet has rushed tt
the fields to plead with the miners against
any action which might provoke thu
Continued ON Page Two.