Evening star., 1932-08-14
BY FRANK H. SIMONDS.

pean political discussion. The
reason for this is quite simple. In the
United States, Great Britain or France
an election is only an election. When
the votes are counted, Republicans or
Democrats Tories or Labor, Right or
Left will triumph and everything will
thereafter proceed as before. The outs
may be in or the "ins" may remain in
power, that is the sum of possibilities.
In Germany, on the other hand,
every election is primarily test OF the
regime itself. The question of the
continuation of the republican form
of government or the plunge into a
Fascist dictatorship is what the German
people actually vote upon. Such a
change as The triumph of the Hitler
forces might bring would too. mean a
very far-reaching transformation In the
whole European situation, for all real
reconstruction on the continent waits
upon a stable government in Germany,
and the mere domination by the Fas-
cists would be accepted beyond German
frontiers as proof Of a state of mind
within the Reich which made co-opera-
ton impossible.
Thus the outside world reads the
statistics of German elections with the
utmost curiosity and with quite as much
interest in the drift shown by the
figures as in the actual result disclosed
by majorities. Europe Is today very
patiently waiting for a German govern
ment with which it can do business.
But it cannot deal with government
which has no authority or which, hav-
ing authority. means to use it only to
promote ends which insure interna-
tional chaos.
Results Indecisive.
Viewing it in this light, what shall
one say Of the recent election?
Actually, of course, the result was
wholly indecisive. Broadly speaking,
groups-the Nationalists, the Republi
can and the Communist parties. More
over, the nature of this division is such
that no one group has majority and
the difficulties in the pathway of CO.
alition between any two are very great.
The result is measure of chaos, which
has continued ever since the election OF
September, 1880.
On the whole, however, while the
latest election marked still another
great gain for the National Socialists
of Hitler, the really surprising thing
was the relatively small break In the
simple terms that the "NaZi" move
ment. in the present test, failed almost
completely to make any inroads upon
its opponents. In point of fact, the
Republicans and Communists, who
would naturally constitute the opposi-
ton, actually count 1923 seats in the
new Reichstag against 800 in the last.
For, while the Democrats lost 10 seets.
the Center gained IL, and, while the
Social Democrats lost 10 seats, the
Communists gained II.
L. ND
the Hitlerites simply swept into their
own camp the followers of half a
dozen smaller parties whose votes have
been against the republican regime in
recent years. From /lore than TO
seats in the last Reichstag, these par
ties will have less than 20 in the new.
Even the Nationalist party although
allied with the Fascists, saw its total
sink from Al seats to 81. As for
Stresemann's old party, it practically
disappeared and its last vestiges will
probably merge with the Nationalist.
In addition. the FascistS gathered in
all the floating elements. The total
number of votes cast was far greater
than two years ago and the increase
went to Hitler. Nevertheless, with all
the advantages of hard times. popular
discomfort, general unrest, Hitler's own
pdIIy 1lOt SdtllCl Al NhlIC ~ POA
cent of the total vote and even with
all its allies will count but 284 seats
In the Chamber, 230 belonging to the
National al-Socialists, 81 to the Nation
alists and II to the Splinter" parties.
Fails to Win Control.
But to win control of Germany Hit
Ter had not only to gather up all the
unorganized and floating elements, he
had also to break the ranks of the re-
publican parties-and there he failed
utterly Bruenings Center party
actually gained ii seats. and the loss
of 10 seats by the Social Democrats
was explained by the gain of IL by
the Communists. Moreover, this Is a
steady phenomenon: when times are
bad the Communists gain and the
Social Democrats lose, but once there
is an Improvement the tide is reversed.
If, however in the face Of the exist
ing condition of Germany, Hitler could
not break the republican and Com
munist ranks, it is fairly certain that
he will never have a better oppor-
tunity. To succeed he had to smash
either the Social Democrats or the
Center, and he has done neither. On
the contrary. these two parties. who,
together with the Democrats, made
the Weimar bloc and supplied re-
publican control Of the Reich for the
past 13 years, will have a combined
strength in the new Reichstag of 230
seats against 229, and thus the same
number as the National Socialists
themselves.
What, then, is to come out Of all this
confusion? Probably nothing very
clear and definite, for Germany is
actually in a state of upheaval and
the process Is likely to continue Tor
several years. One might safely
hazard the guess that political order
in Germany will not arrive until, with
the passing of the present de-
preston, normal economic conditions
are restored For hard times, more
than all else. have served, If not TO
destrov the republic, to deprive the
republican parties Of control within IT,
A regular constitutional government
would cnly be possible by combina-
ton of the 284 Nationalist. National
Socialists ard Splinter" Nationalist
groups That would provide strength
of 381 in house Of GOT But the likeli-
hood of Bruening working with Hitler
is relatively slight. AS for the 'Nazis
themselves, If they once consent TO join
In a coalition cabinet the real edge OF
their fighting strength will be lost and
they will become not crusaders but only
another political party.
Second Possibility.
A second possibility is that the
''Nazis" and their allies. numbering 2S4
will govern with the tacit consent Of
the Center, which without joining in
the combination would refrain from
voting it into a minority. In this case
2S4 Nationalists would face 222 Social
lists and Communists while the 81
Centrists would stand by. In effect
The Center would thus constitute a
brake upon all extremists programs
They would, too. play much the samt
role the Social Democrats have played
in recent times.
On the surface this is the most likely
expedient, but it is only an expedient
Moreover, it presupposes that bar
gain can be made between Hitler ant
Crhleicher the general who Is tn