Evening star., 1932-07-30
Discord in Germany Viewed
As Prelude to Showdown

the assumption of authority over the
state by the Won Papen federal govern
ment was undertaken to put an end to
the rioting between Communists and
Hitler FaScists that had reached alarm
ing proportions within the past few
weeks" but declares that there are
grounds for the suspicion that the dis
orders were permitted so that the cab
iEet might be eVicted.S Asserting that
"a question mark looms over European
affairs as President Won Hindenburg
appoints Fritz Won Papen virtually dc
tator of Prussia" the Davenport Demo-
crat says, How long it will last, what
will come out of the turmoil, is on the
knees Of the gods. The cables Will tell
the story as the Summer goes by"
''The new DEGREES should temporarily
avert the threat of civil war, since the
Communists are not strong enough TO
pit themselves against the government,
while the Fascists will hardly dare risk
Cincinnati Times-Star. Has the Reich
seized Prussia, or is Prussia seizing the
ReichP" comments the Hartford Daily
Times. "On the face of the reports
from Germany the Central government
has taken direct and dictatorial control
OF the largest province and most i'm
pcrtant political subdivision in the ma
ton. Prior to the war, Prussia wholly
dominated Germany. 1t was the Junk
erism OF Prussia which made Ksiserism
and constituted the militarized state.
From the same class which then ruled
Prussia, President Won Hindenburg has
selected the present rulers of that area,
10 whom, temporarily at least, has been
entrusted the power Of the iron hand"
How extensive is this area is shown by
the Spokane Spokesman-R Review, noting
that Prussia has $4,000 900 of Ger
many'S 63,000,000 people" This paper
explains that won Hindenburgs reso-
lutte action, therefore, is equivalent to
our Federal Governments setting I'D a
dictatorship over great part Of the
region east OF the Mississippi" and con-
Guides that the outlook is not en-
couraging."
That "a dictatorship ought to be the
last extremity of a government which
cannot maintain itself in any other
way" is the contention of the YounaS-
Town Vlndicator, which, however, fears
that IN Germany "the dictatorship will
continue indefinitely" The comfort
that the present situation gives to Hit
Ter is condemned by the Fort Worth
Telegram, which declares: Hitler
Is not German. He more nearly re-
other figure IN the public eye. 1t isn't
at all difficult to vision a greatly i'm
proved Germany with his personality
removed" Recalling that the Amer
lean Republic Squandered more than
80 billions that the world might be
made safe for democracy" the Akron
Beacon Journal comments that lit is
presently more than safe for dictators"
The Duluth Herald remarks: Mean
while the royal prisoner at Doom keeps
on, quietly saving wood and ready for
whatever the fates may have in store
Tor him and the rest Of the Hohen-
Zollerns."
Considerable confidence is expressed
in Won Hindenburg. As the New York
sun says: the pres snt situation in
Prussia Is delicate and critical, with
potentialities, for explosion everywhere.
Confidence in the discretion of the old
that in such emergencies II Is not q
bad idea to have a competent driver
holding the reins, leads to general
expectation that the crisis will not be
unduly prolonged The Springfield
(Mass.) Republican states: For the
future of the German republic the
question Of prime Importance Is
whether this reign Of martial law Is
but an interlude during an alleged
emergency or whether one emergency
Is to lead to another, putting demo-
cratic rule in peril"
The Tacoma Ledger sees renewed
confidence in Hindenburg, and con-
cludeS that two unsuccessful attempts
of Hitler to win over the government
having been made. fear in this country
Of what the Nazi leader or Communists
may accomplish has diminished con-
siderably."