Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-03-18
POWER HELD WEAKENING.
Observer Believes Foreign Minister
firing of Duties.
BY DIR. GUSTAV sToLpER.

firing OF Duties. sA2ssl
BY DIR. GUSTAV STOLPER.
BY Radio TO The Star. -
BERLIN, March 13-The foreign
press in the last few days has been
publishing reports prophesying the
coming resignation of Foreign Minister
Stresemann. 1t has not yet come sto
that -.-f -
DR.. Stresemann actusey is tired of
Office. Personal and pcNttcal reasons
combine to make him so. His health Is
far from satisfactory. He never COM
illness. While he resumed his duties
after few months rest. his ability to
work was reduced and his joy in COM
bat was lamed
Although he enjoys life's good
things. he has taken the greatest care
of himself. He has drunk no alcohol
and has attended almost no social
affairs, although this last is especially
difficult for the foreign minister. and
above all in Berlin.
Political Health" Wanes.
But DR.. Stresemann's political health
is also weakened. He stood on the pin
nacle of his triumphs when he received
the Nobel Peace Prize following Lo-
carno in 1926, and made his great
peace speech at Oslo. AT that time
the world still believed in the spirit of
Locarno. Since then, one disappoint-
ment has followed another, and moth
ing of what Germany had promised
herself as result of Locarno has come
to pass.
The whole world at that time re-
garded the evacuation of the Rhine
land as matter of course. but today,
almost, four years later, it is not even
being discussed.
No foreign political event has hap
pened in the last three years. Rela-
lions with Poland have not improved,
the tariff war continues, the question
of union with Austria is farther from
solution than ever, and in the question
of racial minorities, in which Germany
is most interested because millions OF
Germans were handed over to enemy
states against their will at Versailles,
despite Herr Stresemann'S great and
statesmanlike speech.
Other Plans Foolish.
Nevertheless, it would be foolish to
charge DR.. Stresemann with all these
failures, for the policies carried on by
him are the only policies Germany can
have in her particular situation. Even
| if the policies suggested by overwise
counselors could be realized, they would
! lead to destruction-no matter whether
closer relation with Russia against
Western Europe, an alliance with Italy
against France, an alliance with France
against Italy or England. or whatever
other fantastic plans of the dilettantes
| may have been suggested.
DR., Stresemapn'S failures in the last
! month were recorded more in domestic
than in foreign political matters. His
own party, which, he founded and made
strong, refuses TO follow his leadership.
There has long bean a gulf between him
and the Peoples party. but this has only
now become visible to outsiders.
Swings to IeftsWiig s5,9
| Although "a former Nationalist Or.
Stresemanns became the apostle Of IN
ternational peace ideas and he swung
! toward the Democratic left, whereas
the bulk of his party remained nation
alistics and reactionary. As long as the
leader retained his complete physical
strength he regularly overcame oppcsi-
ton, but this no longer is possible for
the sick Stresemann. His party listens to
him with respect and applauds his ora
tory but rejects his advice and wishes
This is probably what depresses him
most and makes him consider resigning.
1t is hard to imagine Germanys pub
lie life and, still more. European poll
cies without this man. for there Is no
body in sight capable of filling his place.
(copyrisht, 1920 :