Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-12-14
Berlin in Political Row
OverWar Film p Production
BY DIR. GUSTAV sroLPER,

noted German Editor and Economist.
Berlin last week had political Aim
scandal such as 1t had never before
experienced
The American-made version of Erich
Maria Remarque's German war novel.
"All Quiet on the Western Front" has
been running for months in Anglo
Saxon countries and in France, with
vast success everywhere, although the
English and French versions had to un-
dergo many alterations out of consid-
Grafton for national feelings.
When the Aim reached Germany sew
eral days ago there were many misgiv-
ings expressed concerning it, but the
state censor made no protest against It,
AT its second showing, however, trouble
arose: It was instigated by the Ma
tonal Socialists, the German Fascists
Under the leadership of Adolf Hitler's
chief OF propaganda Dr. Paul Goeb-
oeIs, some dozen young Hitlerites at
tempted to prevent the showing of the
MIN and the police were compelled to
intervene.
Stink Bombs Exploded.
The demonstrations were repeated
white mice and snakes tossed into the
theater, causing panic among the
spectators. There were also demonstra-
tons in the streets, where the ''Nazis,"
as the National Socialists are called, >
organized mass meetings and process
SionS. The natural result was clashes
with the police The police chief issued
q decree forbidding all gatherings and
meanwhile the government interviewed.
Several German states-significant
not, at first, those in whose govern
mentS the "Nazis' are represented, but
Bavaria, Saxony and Wurttemberg-ap-
pealed to the state censorship board to
ban the film. This department has the
independent standing of a court. 1t
requested briefs from the foreign office
and the ministries of the interior and
defense. All three ministers approved
the prohibition of the film and the CEN
sors so decided.
HitIerites Continue Aggressive.
However, this does not end the con-
sequences OF the episode for Germany's
domestic politics. The ban on the Aim
Will greatly increase the inflated self
confidence Of the Hitlerites, already
swelled by previous successes. And
they will let this test Of their power be
followed by others.
Al Cnc 4dSC analysis, the DaLtle or the
"Nazis" Is directed against DR.. Wirth.
Federal Minister of the Interior. DIR.
Wirth represents the Center partys Left
Wing. He was chancellor when his
friend. Walter Rathenau. was murdered
and in his first dismay on hearing of
this crime he uttered a phrase which
has never been forgotten: THE enemy
stands on the Right"
Incurred Hate Of Right Wing.
Since then DR.. Wirth has been
hated by the Right wing
parties and this hatred was Increased
when he maintained the decree of his
Socialist predecessor barring the usual
Reichs grants of aid to the "Nazi"
government of Thuringia.
Next to Foreign Minister Curtius. DIR.
Wrth Is the main target of the ex-
IRENE Right Wing parties. His surren-
Ter In the present film affair can re-
ieve the tension only momentariIy. By
me END OF January or the beginning of
FEBRUARY at the latest, the storm win
oreak over the cabinet with renewed
ury, unless DR.. Curtius returns from
+eneVa with some measure of success
N the question Of the oppressed Ger
nan minority in Polish Upper Silesia.
Copyright. 1907