Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-03-24
GERMANY POWDERS
STRESEMANN FATE.
Three Alternatives Appear
Open to Foreign Minister.
One Is Retirement.
BY JOHN ELLIOTT.

b6HLlN, h1dICl &C,--W Lnlc LII. 1uo-
tav Stresemann is enjoying these first
warm Spring days on the Italian
Riviera. the German political world is
specializing on the future OF the Ger
man foreign minister.
Three alternatives at the present mo-
ment appear to be open to him. First,
1t is said he is contemplating retiring
from active political life Immediately
after the reparations experts in Paris
have presented their report. Secondly,
DR.. Stresemann is being urged to flop
over from the Peoples party, which he
founded after the revolution. and join
the Democratic party. Thirdly, the
possibility is being seriously conten1-
plated in certain quarters of DR.. Strese-
mann forming a new party by the
amalgamation of various similar think
ing groups in the existing parties with
a strong leaven of German youth Or
CARNATIONS.
Repudiatcd by Own Party.
Taking UP the first and most melan-
choly of these three alternatives, there
can be no doubt that the eventuality
of DR.. Stresemann resigning before the
end of the year must be reckoned with
as serious possibility, for, paradox
ically enough. while DR.. Stresemann's
prestige abroad and at home probably
never stood higher than it does today,
his political position was never so peril
Gus since he first assumed Office as
chancellor in 1928. In amazement,
Germany has seen Stresemann repudi-
ated by his own party, which he found
ed and which he nominally leads. and
whose sole title to the esteem of the
German electorate rests on his men,
bership.
A few weeks ago DR.. StreSemann de-
1ivered an extraordinary speech before
a meeting of the leaders of the Peoples
party on parliamentary government and
the danger of a dictatorship. The
speech has been described as Strese-
mann's political testament. It was prob
ably the ablest public address delivered
by German statesman since Bis
marck, and some Of its passages in elo
ouence and profound political thought
could bear comparison with Burke. The
purpose of StreSemann's speech was to
persuade his political associates to put
the country above party and to enter
the proposed coalition so that Germany
could have a stable government at the
time when the reparations problem en-
tiers its final stage.
Stresemann's speech made visible
impression on his hearers, and was ac-
claimed throughout the country. Never
theless the Peoples party leaders pro-
coded to wreck the coalition negotia-
tons. The industrialists who finance
this party admittedly feared an alliance
with the Socialists, and in comparison
with their gold even the silver tongued
eloquence of Stresemann proved fruit
less
But political isolation is by no means
the only factor which may induce the
foreign minister to free himself from
office. Though just past so years Of
age. Stresemann's health remains pre-
cariouS. and his physicians tell him
that prolonged rest is necessary If he
wishes to enjoy q long life. The disap-
pointment and disillusions have con-
spired to make the German foreign
minister tired of political activities
Despite the external eclat Of Locarno
League of Nations in 1925. Stresemann
has failed to gain the goal he set him
self of securing the liberation of the
Rhineland from foreign occupation.
Despite Germany's acceptance of the
principle OF compulsory arbitration and
the Kellogg pact, French suspicious re-
main and the Anglo French pact of last
year came within a hairbreath of UNI
doing all the good that Locarno had
accomplished. In open bitterness of
spirit Stresemann few months ago, in
d tdIh Will 1OIClSI JOnIlldlAotc, COtkl~
pared his task to that of Sisyphus, and
as If these difficulties were not enough,
there is the never-ending intrigues to
GUST Stresemann from Office by the fol-
lowers of that ambitious DR.. Ludwig
KaaS.
New Affiliation Urged.
Despite the fact that Stresemann has
been head of the foreign Office scarcely
more than five years, a few German
Republicans of today can visualize the
foreign policy of this country as being
carried on without Stresemann. George
Bernhard in Vossische Zeitung pleads
with the foreign minister to join the
Democratic party. Time brings in its
track many strange revenges, and GER
tainly nothing can be more entertaining
than the spectacle of Democratic lead
ers who banged barred and bolted
door in Stresemann's face ten years ago,
because of his reactionary past, now
pleading with him to knock again on
: the assurance that this time it will be
opened unto him.
Stresemann, however, who is a canny
politician, is not likely to trust his
political future to a party like the
Democratic that appears to be headed
for the rocks. Much more feasible is
the suggestion advanced by the koel-
niSche Zeltung. which enjoys excellent
relations with the foreign minister. that
Stresemann should found a new party.
This "Stresemann party" would IN
ciude a merger of the liberal groups in
the Democratic, Center and the Peo-
pies parties, plus fusion of youthful
organizations such as the Young Ger
man Order" 1t is perhaps not without
significance that Stresemann in his
speech to the Peoples party declared
that the worst sign of recent political
developments in Germany was that the
young people were holding aloof from
inartu rnlitics because they found nnth-