Imperial Valley press., 1922-06-24
IS
VICTIM Of
PLOT
Foreign Minister Murdered
In Street With Grenade
And Pistols
AUTO SAVES SLAYERS
Reichstag in Upr0ar Blames
Former Chancellor
For Crime

LONDON, June 24.-Rathenau as
sination today rejuvenated rumors OF
possibility of reactionary 'puttsch -
(reactionary revolt) according to news
dispatches received from Berlin today.
This message is particularly signifi-
cant. taken in connection with rumors
from Copenhagen that martial law had
been declared in Berlin.
Killed Near Own Home
BERLIN, June 24.-Walter Rattle
nau, minister of foreign affairs, was
killed today by assassins who threw a
hand grenade and then opened fire
with revolver.
The assassin escaped in au autOmo-
bile
The attack occurred in the Bismarck
stresse, Just after Rathenau left his
home in the Gruenwald, Il suburb, near
Potsdam, on his way to his office.
Large bodies of police, formed III
flying squadf0ns, searched the city
for the assassins. Many houses and
gathering places of known enemies of
the government were entered.
A Gordon was thrown around the
district where the murder occurred and
all who passed were questioned. Ef-
forts also were made to trace the auto
mobile used by the slayer.
An eye witness told the United Press
two assassins attacked Rathenau.
They were masked, according to this
witness. AS their motor came along.
side the foreign minister, they simul-
taneously hurled hand grenades and
then began firing their pistols, he de-
clared Eight bullets struck Rathenau
in the head.
Rcichstag Riot Follows
The assassination created sensa-
tiOn at the meeting of Reichstag com
mittees this morning. Socialists swarmed
around former Chancellor Helferrich,
who recently attacked Rathenau in 4
speech.
you re the murderer" they cried.
Some of the Socialists grabbed Ielf-
ferich by the collar as they accused
him of responsibility for the assassin
alton. He left at once.
A messenger arrived with boquet
of roses for Helfferich The flowers
were tied with Il black, white and red
ribbon on which was inscribed:
"TO the saviour of the Fatherland. "
A mele ensued in which the messen-
ger was beaten.
Rathenau was one of the most pow
erful men in the German government.
He conducted the negotiations
with the Russians at Genoa, which led
to the German Russian treaty reopen
ing trade relations between those two
countries.
Rathenau was always considered
Germany's leading expert on recon.
struction matters and was foreign min.
lister in the former Wirth ministry.
When this cabinet was formed last
winter Rathenau was made acting for
eign minister.
Since the end of the war, Rathenau
has been known throughout the world
as Germany s most competent author
ity on indemnity problems.
Enemy of Reactionaries
Rathenau was head of the German
electrical trust. He and Hugo SHINES
were considered Germany's wealthiest
men. Despite his great wealth, he was
% member of the socialist party and
it is possible his assassination was due
to monarchists. In all his dealings
with allied governments and his own,
Rathenau has stood for a sane and
quick settlement of reparations and
indemnities problems with France
Throughout Germany troubled times
in the transition from monarchy to
republic, Rathenau has opposed and
to his death continued to oppose return
of reactionaries to power.
More than any other man in Europe
he held the confidence of the Wirtl
ministry, President Ebert and the Ger.
man people as n whole. His death is
considered a most serious blow to the
sane reconstructionist movement.
The Gruenwald section of Berlin
where. Rathenau was assassinated, was
one of the most exclusive residential
districts lying between Berlin proper
and the city of Potsdam.
Opposed World War
| In an interview with representa-
| tive of the United Press last year, DIR
Rathenau insisted that he always hat