Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-04-26
BY EMIL LENGYEL.

I@Ya recent decree Of Marshal Won
- Hindenburg, President of the
Reich, Heinrich Bruening Ger
IL manys chancellor, has been in
vested with powers amounting
| to dictatorship, which he will exert in
concert with his cabinet and with the
governments of the federal states.
A few days before the PRONUNCIATION
Of the decree Herr Bruening threw the
political world into turmoil by agree
! ing, in the name Of Germany, to nego-
| tiate a treaty for the purpose OF form
! ing q customs union with Austria.
Several governments suggested that
| this was the dreaded "Anschluss," the
union Of the two German-speaking
countries, and that the preliminary
agreement was o violation of the peace
| treaties and Of later international OBJ
| legations. The British Voreign minister
Arthur Henderson, succeeded IN still
ing the angry voices Of the opposition
by suggesting that the agreement should
be submitted to the Council OF the
League of Nations for examination.
Presently Downing street extended an
invitation to Herr Bruening and his
foreign minister to q round-table con-
ference in London. Thus, presumably
much against his wish. Germany's
chancellor was placed in the forefront
Of international affairs.
Celebrates First Anniversary.
Invested with the power of dictator
and originator Of one of the boldest po-
litical schemes of the postwar era,
Chancellor Bruening the other day cele-
brated his first anniversary as the head
Of the German government. A year ago
political wiseacres predicted that Herr
Bruening would soon join the ranks OF
the swelling army of Germany's political
failures. Today he is the man of the
hour, the bronco-buSter of the German
political world.
Dictators are usually thought Of as
men with voraciouS mouths and thun-
derous voices, with eyes like steel and
fists like hammers. Chancellor Bruen-
ing is the reverse Of the traditional type
Of dictator. His lips are finely cut and
his voice Is soft; his eyes, when not bar
ricaded behind spectacleS, gleam with
the kindness Of an ingratiating blue; his
hands are those Of a college professor.
sensitive and nervous. not crushing and
ruthless.
Herr Bruening has a good many mega
tive virtues. all Of which might explain
failure - but they do not explain his
amazing success. He Is one of the least
accomplished speakers Of the Reichstag
to nearly inaudible whisper, Is heavy
strain on the temper Of this tumultuous
Parliament. His manner Is reticent,
and he Is far from being Q master in
the statesman's art of promising much
and giving little. He has no social
backing worthy Of the name. In the
position he occupies, Bruening is q
young man. only IA Circumstance
which is no advantage in a Legislature
well supplied with men older In years
and In parliamentary experience.
Germany's chancellor Is a bachelor,
and his greatest passion is said to be to
remain In his present unmarried state.
In his private life Br1Iening Is the relic
Of past age, a man untainted by the
infections Of the twentieth century. He
lives like recluse, averse to money,
fame and love.
Takes Only Part u Pay.
It Is an open secret that he uses only
small part Of the salary he receives as
head OF the government. The rest goes
back TO the state or to some charitable
purpose. He Is o fanatic for work,
which for him Is not q means of glory,
but an end in itself. The capacity Of
ministers to work long hours seems to
be more the rule than the exception
phenomenon that may be explained only
by mans passion to dominate his fellow
men-but among Woodworking minis
tiers Bruening shines as q star, with his
daily average of Is hours at his desk
and In the conference chamber.
The serenity Of this monkish life is
interrupted by periodical visits TO close
relatives or occasional trips into the
Schwarzwald, Bruening's favorite
tramping place. In rustic attire he