New-York tribune., 1922-01-19
Decision of Ccnlrisls to
Stand by Government
Adds Greatly TO Prestige
of tho Moderate Faction
Tax Compromise Sought
Chancellor May G." Person
ally TO Genoa ir Cabinet
Problem Is Disposed OF
By Joseph ShapIcn
81 Wireless 10 The Tribune


BERLIN, Jan. 49, With the rcas-
scmbling Of the Rcichstng tomorrow
to consider financial and economic
program of the utmost Importance
from the point Of view Of Germany's s
international rclntlons, as we'll ms her
internal situation, tho Wirth govern
mcnt viii face n test which IS likely
to decide whether it stays in power
or falls.
Foremost among the questions be-
tore the Reichstag will be the govern
Hcnl 5 taxation program, upon which
the parties, both inside and outside the
government, thus far have been unable
agree because Of the Socialists firm
lrslstonc" ON direct partial confscation
Of capital.
While this problem constitutes the
bone of contention which may Iead to
'''c'l crisis involving Chancellor
Wnth's downfall and the formation Of
q puIr1y >oclatlst government, neither
the majority Socialists nor the inde-
pendcnts are eager to see Wirth go
recognizing his achievements in the
domain "t international affairs. as we'll
as his earnest contributions to strength
cning the republic at home Moreover
DR.. Wirth returns to the Reichstag
with his party sNiidly behind him.
Centrists Support Chancellor
The congress Of the Ccntrist party.
Just adjourned, unanimously voted to
support DR.. Wirth whose faction
seems to have gained the upper hand
over those clements Of the right wing
Of the party headed by Spann and
Stegcrwald, who until recently disap-
proved of Or. Wirtt's s foreign and in
ternal policies, and were inclined to
support the Peoples party in its oppo-
Sl,lon to the acceptance of the Allies
demands. as we'll as to the Wirth gov
crh>acntS efforts to meet the Entente
conditions.
Dr.. Wirth's speech at the Ccntrist
congress in defense Of his policy as
the only ono which made possible the
developments leading ultimately to the
invitation of the Genoa conference met
the warmest approval and won him a
unanimous vote Of confidence. The
signlilcance of the victory of the LETT
wing of the Centrist party is much
greater, so far as the fate of Germany
Is concerned, than is apparent on the
surface. The Centrist party, which
forms the keystone Of Germany's DO
htIcal structure, by throwing definitely
i's unanimous support to the countrv's
- ~ 'o'Nc9, mas nelped to cc-
ment It's cooperation with the Social
democrats, thus greatly strengtheninp
,he combination which alone thus far
mas kept Germany from chaos. This
oevelopment has produced an efflsivc
eNchange Of bouquets between tho
press of the Centrists and the Social
Democrats, and is likely to contribute
greatly to restoration of the eoui
llorlum of German political and eco
nom'c life. raising the prestige of the
moderate forces, both among the bour
geolse and the proletariat
Seek Compromise on Taxes
Reports this afternoon we're that
representatives of the Centrists and
the Social Democrats hoped to reach
a compromise on the taxation question
before tomorrow. Should an agree
ment be reached between these two
'eaolhg government parties, the Dem
ocrats probably would give their ap-
proVal' tnus clearing the way for the |
only real question which threatens thn
life of the Wirth Cabinet. the dissolu-
ton t. of the Reichstag and general po-
litcal confusion.
what DR.. Wi,th is aiming at is to
strengthen his government on it's pres
eht coalltlon basis, so that Germany |
would be represented at Genoa by =
government embodyng most of the !
countrys leading parties. Should he
succeed in enlarging the political basis
OF his Cabinet it is not impossible
that Dr.. Wrth personally would head
the German delegation to Genoa.
Chancellor Wirth appeared before
the German congress of trade and in
dustry to-day in Berlin, where he again
defended his foreign policy and urged |
the cooperation of the country's in
dustrial forces with the government.
This was regarded as an open invita-
ton to the Peoples party to join the
Government in it's effort to reach a
reasonable unders standing with the AL
hes on the reparations question and to
draw up a comprehensive plan for Eu-
ropean rcadiustmcnt which Germany
Will present st Genoa.