Evening star., 1923-09-30
SEES D|cTATORS'
5. RULE IN GERMANY
Harden Notes Omission OF
"RepubIic" From Berlin and
Munich Proclamations.
ny MAMMALIAN HARDEN.

public" doesn't appear in the procla-
nations of the Berlin and Munich
governments. that both governments
employ dictatorial force instead OF
appeal to the forces of democracy
and both dictators are Bavarians.
In Berlin the supreme power has
been handed over to Minister of De-
tense Gessler. against whom both
the Prussian and Saxon socialists
have expressed the strongest lack
of confidence, because they aNege
that he permitted the reichswehr to
have connections with secret mon
archistic organizations. DR.. Won
Eahr is the Munich dictator. He
never denied his monarchistic par
ticularism. and is regarded as the
strongest supporter OF reaction. He
prophesied recently that Bavaria
would soon bring about historic hap
penings in the world" and he ended
the speech with cheers for King
Rupprecht of Bavaria"
The German and BaNarian re
publics" could not have found a bet
ter man. Kahr's party, TO which
President Won Knilling's cabinet be-
longs, fights for the house of Wit
tlesbach, whose chief is Rupprecht
an educated, cultured man. who
actions.
Little Chance for HohenzoIIerns.
He knows there is little chance just
now for the restoration of the Hohen-
Zollerns and il is possible that he
dreamed of the possibility of becom-
ing kaiser. and, as such. of restoring
the old splendor of the empire. Since
the Queen of Belgium is his cousin
and also his sister law. his sup
porters-and possibly he himself
hope his candidacy for kaiser will
not encounter insuperable obstacles
from the western powers.
Stronger than this group hitherto,
however. was the group led by the
Austrian Hitler and the Prussjan
Ludendorff, whose sole aim was war
against France, the restoration of the
Hohenzollerns, the Incorporation of
Austria into Germany and alliance
with Hungary.
Hitler and Ludendorff have more
weapons and a better military or
ganization. Kahr's party, despite the
fact that he is Protestant. enjoys
the protection of the powerful Cath
ole Church. Both undoubtedly
command great financial resources,
and both take advantage of the Ba-
varians' old antipathy against Berlin,
of anger over the national govern
ment's bad and fruitless policy and
over the French occupation Of Ba-
capital of Berlin's Jewish clique"
Doubt Of Attitude.
Whether the Kahr and Hitler par
ties will fight against each other de-
pends more on personal questions
than on matters of principle. The
mass of the German people are not
have heard so many threats of Ba-
varian secession. 1t is not impos-
sible, however, that this new piece of
mischief may bring realization of
the necessity of democratic policy
which shall take the consequences Of
war and defeat and assure the per-
petuity of the German republic by a
dignified adjustment to the aims of
civilized humanity.
Only constituencies quacks who call
themselves patriots can recommend
other remedies to the people
Chancellor Stresemann could have
avoided the present crisis had he
taken a firm stand from the start.
Six weeks passed after Chancellor
Cuno disappeared before the Ruhr
conflict ended. Why did the govern
ment so long delay a decision whose
inevitability was recognized from the
first day? The answer given is that
this period was necessary to prepare
the people for painful defeat. One
would not be surprised at such an
answer in an absolutist empire. but
republic whose citizens can be de-
ceived for months about a vital ques-
tion and who require weeks of prep
aration for the truth Is a democratic
republic in name only.
Cites Stresemann's Mistake.
Chancellor Stresemann should have
demanded that the nationalists make
good their threats to drive the French
and Belgians from the Ruhr and the
Rhineland and restore German SOW
ereignty in those districts. He would
have been told that this required time
and patience. Then he could have
said:
You stir the people up against the
government and accuse US of weak
ness, but when the time comes to let
deeds follow words you make excuses
and demand patience, because you
know that Germany cannot wait
longer. Responsibility for the fate
of the German nation compels me to
take the step tomorrow which you
organs attack me I shall reply that
you were not able to fulfill your
promises and would have plunged the
nation into a war III which defeat
was certain
The chancellor should also have in
formed the whole nation of the
exact truth at once. A total of at
least 9.000.000.000 gold marks has
been paid out, without reckoning the
tremendous losses due to occupation
in other words, enough to have
satisfied the reparations commission
until 1897 or longer. without any
moratorium. The people believed a
defensive struggle was being carried
on with great privations, and that
at least partial victory was certain.
The government could have won the
support of the masses by telling the
naked truth--that the struggle never
for a minute promised to be success
full, but would cause heavy losses.
Hesitated for Six Weeks.
Instead of doing this, the govern
ment hesitated for six weeks, wasting
more money and shattering :he cur
rency, and then announced it's re-
treat in a proclamation which re-
peated the old accusations against
France and Belgium in tones Of
moral indignation.
The delay, which cost ten thou
sand trillion paper marks. and the
proclamation, nearly every one Of
whose sentences is wrongly framed,
are both products OF fear. Presi-
dent Ebert and the present govern
ment share the responsibility with
Cuno, because they will not admit
that his policy was false and
Military rule and other things
about which they now complain
would never have come to pass If
they had not opposed technical in
dustrial control, but had acted as
they did after the occupation of
Dusseldorf, Ruhrort and Duisburg,
which has been regarded for nearly
three years now as consonant with
Germany's honor.
Another Source of Fear.
But they were still more afraid of
the communists and the nationalists.
The threats of the former were never
dangerous, although the nationalists
boast that they can arm and mob
ilize 100000 men. Stresemann could