Evening star., 1926-05-29
THE HATED GERMAN CRISIS
BY FRANK II. SIMONDS

sticking to the republican emblem or
taking q long step toward restoring
the old banner--he could not ~ tisfy
either the Republican Socialists. VIII"
were for the new faG without r,odih-
cation. or the Nationalists, who were
for the restora ton Of the imperial
colors and would accept no conpro-
mise. Actually Luther fell because
the Socialists snd Communists voted
against him and the Nationalist
either abstained from voting IT a'so
voted against him.
The fall was q surprise and IL dis
closes the fact that minority ministry
is always working with rome round
it's neck and can easily become the
victim of any sudden sweep at pas
sion on either side OF the house.
Ae the situation sta nds. q combina-
ton OF the Communists with either
the Socialists or the Nationalist
against the sbinet would almost cer
tainly doom it. And. at moments
when questions of the utmost i'm
portance for Germany internationally
are under consideration. the cabinet
Reichstas quarrel.
The departure OF Luther and the
coming OF Marx does not mean any
change In German foreign policy. be-
cause despite Nationalist fuln1ina
tions the mass of the German people
want peace and approve OF the T0car-
no agreements. 1t does not mean any
present peril to the republic. becsuse
Marx is far more completely repuh-
lican than Luther and because even
the opponents Of the republic other
than the extremists know that any
attempt at restoration now would BE-
auicjdal from, all int rna a tional aaNACtS
~
But what the upset does moan is
that parliamentary government in
German ny remains fncoherent and
chaotic, that no strong policy and No
firm course can he followed indeed
that no consistent line car be taken
because Marx. like IAther and like
any one who may succeed him. will
be a minority chancellor with only
q third OF the Reichsrsg votes hack
of him. Every day to survive Marx
must get votes either from the Ma
tionslists or the Socia lists. hut IL ne
inclines markedly in either direction
he will lose all chance OF getting
votes from the other quarter and his
own following will begin to protest.
because IL 1t 10 republican it r. not
radical.
Socialists made up their minds that
he had been cooperating too closely
with the Nationalists. Marx may
easily fall in short time because the
conservative wing OF his own follow
ing feels that he is acting. too much in
sympathy with the Socialists. More.
over. any failure In foreign afYairs
would certainly bring the ministry
down, for the Germans are intensely
sensitive and insistent upon German
prestige.
Luther was not a great man. but he
was a sane, solid. utterly well inten-
toned man. He was owershadowed
by Stresemann, the foreign minister.
who IN also leader Of The People's
shadowed. Stresemann iS today the
real power in German politics, the
cleverest politician Germany has yet
produced, perhaps by nos means q
Bismarck, but strongly reminiscent
Of Lloyd George. His party. the
party Of the iDdustrialists,, holds the
balance of power. 1t wSnts peace
abroad and conservatism at home; 1t
IL for the republic. at least provision.
ally. but It is against ali extreme
democratic ideas and methods.
Marx was not too SUCCESSFUL in his
last cabinet, although he Gid bring
the Dawes plan through. He sub
seQuently suffered much loss Of pres
tiee in his unsuccessful race with
Hindenburg for the presidency two
years ago, and for his less well known
struggle In the Prussian PARLIAMENT.
But he ia certainly an honest man. q
sincere republican and q convinced
cha mpion Of the policy which is com.
pretended in the LLocarno pactD. But
he IA in no real sense prime minister.
has no authority and is unlikely To
have o long or smooth passage In
otllco.
fC.onx rirht tp2a