Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1925-12-10
Little Hope for Permanent
Cabinet Is Seen in Germany

Luther-Stresemann cabinet to retire.
To get the Locarno pacts through the
ReichStag. Luther and Stresemann
had to go to the Socialists for the
necessary votes. But the Socialists,
while favorable to Locarno. had not
forgotten recent history and demanded
as their price that following the rati.
fication of the pact Luther and
StreSemann should resign. The pres
ent crisis is the result of the fulfill
ment of this promise.
But the Socialists, having demanded
the resignation of the cabinet, re-
main hostile to Luther, whom they
regard as representing extreme con
sentative interests, so far as economic
problems are concerned, and they are
now holding out against any new
Luther cabinet. The Nationalists, on
the other hand, are bitterly opposed to
both Luther and Stresemann because
of the Locarno pact. But no cabinet
can live which is opposed by both the
Socialists and the Nationalist, count
ing together PAL votes, because to
these must be added some so votes
coming from the Communists and the
Fascist party of Ludendorff.
With Luther out a new cabinet
might be formed taking in the Social
lists, Catholics, Democrats and People s
Party, or having the benevolent neu-
trality Of the Socialists, who might
vote for it but not take office. Such
a cabinet would be obviously based
upon the common agreement of all
as to the Locarno pact. But the Lo-
carno pact. having been ratified, is
no longer an issue, while the differ
ences between capital and labor con-
stitute very real lines Of cleavage
between the Peoples Party, for exam
pie, and the Socialists.
The point is that in all domestic
politics the bourgeois parties are sub
stantially Of the same views as the
Nationalist, except in the single mat
ter of republic versus monarchy, and
that emphatically is not an issue at
the present time. By contrast, in all
foreign questions the Socialists and all
three bourgeois parties favor recon
Citation and adjustment on the terms
which are possible, while the Ma
tionalists demand impossible terms,
and thus in effect, if not in purpose,
oppose all adjustments.
In this chaotic situation Strese-
mann is the single outstanding politi-
cal leader, and the votes Of his party,
the Peoples Party, have the balance
bl power. IL lIlSS ldll Will lIlS Nd
tionalists they will also carry with
them the Democrats and Catholics in
sufficient numbers. If they fall with
the Socialists the same is true. But
any alliance between socialism and
big business can be. at best. no more
than a marriage of convenience, which
cannot last.
What seems likely now is some
makeshift cabinet, with Stresemann
as member, although hardly chan
cellor, and depending upon tempo
rary arrangement with the Socialists.
If the Socialists stand out against
Luther, then Wirth, the Catholic ex-
chancellor, may come back. This COM
bination can hardly last long and will
probably give way after a brief time
to a new cabinet with the National
lists participating. But here, again.
Stresemann is likely to appear.
All of which patiently makes for
chaos and confusion, for instability,
and, from the point of view of outside
nations, much bewilderment. But it
has little real Importance. does not
signify that the republic, the Dawes
plan or the Locarno pact are In
danger, but only that the domestic
political differences between Germans
and the inherent weakness of the bloc
system make any stable and lasting
arrangement impossible.
Copyright. 1925.l