Evening star., 1931-12-09
Hindenburg's Firm Hand.

President Won Hindenburg will stand
now strutting across the German stage
rs If he were already the anointed heir
apparent Of the Berlin government.
Coincident with q decree ordaining
drastic cuts in wages, rents, interest,
retail prices and public utility rates,
as q further attempt to grapple with
the economic crisis, the Reich author
tiles warn Fascism that any effort to
overthrow the existing regime will
precipitate martial law. The Hitlerites
must live up literally to their leaders
pledge that power Is sought only
through constitutional means. II any
of his minions thrust for it by other
methods, they will fnd themselves faced
by q Hindenburg line, 1881 model, and
one prepared to offer them resistance
and no mercy.
1t was through Chancellor Bruening,
addressing the nation over the radio
last night, that the government showed
its teeth. Obviously the German au-
thorities are moved to promulgate their
stern policy by the brazen assertions
which recently fell from Herr Hitler's
lips. The chancellor takes due note
of the Fascist chiefs own protestations
Of purely constitutional intentions, but
notes also open threats by some Of his
subleaders that the Brown Shirts would
not shrink from seizing Office by force.
AS to that, DR.. Bruening declares, "the
government Is determined to employ
every means, even to . state of siege,
against anybody attempting to hinder
the constitutional organs in fulfillment
OF their functions" The chancellor
adds: Promises Of legal procedure are
valueless If it is admitted that they
are binding only until the moment Of
assumption OF power" This may be
q reference to earlier Hitler boasts that
when Fascism Is enthroned at Berlin
some heads may have to roll In the
sand"
The Hindenburg line at the moment
stretches along two fronts-the one oc-
cupied by the Hitlerites and the one
presented by Germany's colossal debt
problem. While the Reich's emissaries
at Basel are trying to convince the
World Bank experts Of Germsny's Bit
ter need for new period of grace on
$4,000 ,0o0, 600 OF xhort-term credits
falling due early in 1892, the Hinden-
burg -Bruenins government Is tackling
internal financial chaos In hammer
snd-tonsx fashion. Yesterdays emer-
gency decree appoints price dicta-
tor" empowered to hammer down liy-
ing costs arbitrarily in all directions.
The decree Is termed "the only
means" of preventing the German
economic house from collapse Wages
are TO come down 10 per cent; prices
OF coal. iron and public utilities are
reduced; rents will fall from 10 to IL
per cent, and interest on public and
private obligations Is slashed rs to so
per cent Of present rates To arrest
the flight OF capital, rs per cent tax
will be levied on the property of any
citizen who attempts to remove assets
from Germany. Germans living abroad
for tax-dodging purposes and who re-
fuse to return within four months viii
be heavily taxed and subject to impris-
onment when they do return.
President Won Hindenburg is proceed
ing on Grover Cleveland's principle that
it is . condition, and not 4 theory,
which Germany faces. Being An ex-
ceedingly grave condition, he has decided
to resort to heroic measures 10 meet
1t. The outside world, believing In the
sincerity of the Bruening government,
wishes 1t we'll In its desperate effort TO
avert disaster.