Evening star., 1924-12-21


state of fiux, Notwithstanding &
L truce permitting the Marx
cabinet to hold over until the
Refchstag meets, the first weeR of
January. In so far as her foreign
relations are concerned. Germany al
ready Is feeling the evil effects of
procrastination.
But as the political tides ebb and
flow one thing stands out more and
more predominently - German ma
tfonalism, with all its bladerdash and
flourish in the recent campaign and
elections, dares not show its hands
too much.
After having encouraged the people
into thinking that Germany's future
rested only in resumption of a cour-
ageous and uncompromising front to
other nations, and having made cleo
| tion gains on the strength of their
plea, the Nationalists today shun ac-
tual assumption of power.
During the impasse of the past two
weeks in regard to the formation of
a new government, the Nationalists.
though expressing a wish to be rep
resented in the new cabinet, never
theless have made il plain that they
have no desire to be put in the re-
sponsible high places at once. They
prefer to remain a. party of the oppo-
sition. This Is the highly abject atti-
tude in one of the sharpest fights for
governmental control in recent times,
but the Nationalists realize the fulfil
ity Of the position so ably shouted
from the housetops in the recent cam
paign.
Thumbs Down ON Nationalfsts.
When the votes were counted 1t
appeared that the agrarian and in
n 20 hv- TIT, -;.l.
the conservative wing of the Center
ist party. might obtain a majority in
the Reichstag, and as 4 result a
highly conservative regime would be
seated and intrusted to carry forward
Germany's destinies. Stresemann,
Foreign Minister in the Marx cabinet
and head of the Peoples party, mon
archistic in tendency, sought coalition
with the Conservatives. When it ap-
peared that he would succeed the
Catholic party, or Centerum, of which
Chancellor Marx Is the leader, put
thumbs down on the prospective
Nationalist and Peoples party regime,
refusing to enter or support any cabi-
net that might in the least interfere
with full fruitition of Germany's re-
sponsibilities abroad. And the Ma
tionaiists are committed to oppose
fulhllment. A Socialist regime in
Ici IIdHg is HciO unlnlnka Die, not
withstanding the fact that this party
holds the most votes in the Reichstag.
AS a consequence. President Ebert
will once more be forced to fall back
on the old coalition for government
composed, as 1t is, of the Catholics
Democrats and Socialists.
VIII Have Little Voice.
! The Nationalists unquestionably
VIII have little voice in the new gov
ernment. But 1t cannot be taken for
granted that they will not offer dis
turbance and objections wherever
possible For, even though the Ma
tionalists know full well that in as
sumption OF power they would suffer
and Germany would suffer, in so far
as international relationships are
concerned, they have not despaired
of eventually ruling. 1t is exceed
ingly likely that before the year 1925
is over they once more will have
found ways and means of making any
coalittonist regime SO untenable that
a new election will be called, with
the hope that the agrarian and indus
trial interests Will succeed in captur-
ing Reichstag majority, and one in
dependent of the Centerists or any
other party. Only until that time
comes can the Nationalists expect to
pei ipoludte tHcAT pOilCleS. only III
preponderent strength can they ever
expect to undermine the republic and
! its works, which, it must be admitted
have been, from an internal and ex-
ternal. standpoint, exceedingly ad-
| vantageous to the people.
The Nationalists know full well
| that the eyes of other nations have
been centered upon their efforts to
install Stresemann Peoples party
! regime, which would be a tool in the
hands of all monarchial elements. 1t
is not surprising that in the midst
of their political maneuvering and
after repeated party confabs that
they should decide to forego any
claims for important cabinet posi-
tions.
Neither is the declination OF For
eign Minister Stresemann surprising.
Stresemann repeatedly has pledged