Evening star., 1932-11-20
ADVANCE OF COMMUNISM
CONTINUES In GERMANY
Repulsing of Revolution of Fascists
Counteracted by Gain of Reds
i'm Recent Elections.

stag that Is not based upon the 1875
seats controlled by Hitler. Moreover,
the single conceivable combination Is
that based upNl 1876 Fascists, 81 Ma
tionalists and 88 Catholics. This would
yield 344 seats in house Of 582. But
more than half Of this coalition would
belong to the FascistS and they would
have every right to claim not only the
chancellorship, but a majority of the
important posts, Of which that con-
trolling the army would be the most
important.
So far the complete triumph Of Hitler
has been prevented only by the opposi
ton Of the army. Back of the present
Hindenburg-Papen dictatorship stands
the all-important figure Of Gen. Won
Schletcher, representing the Reichs-
wehr. Only less important for Hitler
would be the control of the Prussian
police and this, too, would be q prize
within his grasp If he became chancel-
lor. Once in control Of the army and
the Prussian police, however, Hitler
would make short work Of all his op-
ponents and nominal allies alike
Now, although he has lost few seats
and his movement has already passed
the crest Of its vote-getting strength,
tactically Hitlers situation is Just as
strong as 1t was before. Papen or any
other man selected to replace him can
rule only as q dictator and thus against
the legal forms. Together the Naxis
and the Reds can upset any cabinet
which may be framed. II q new cleo
ton is ordered the Reds are likely to
gain almost as many seats as the Nazis
lose.
Restoration Impossible.
In the meantime, Just as the election
last Summer smashed the republican
parties, the later test has demolished
the basis for any restoration of the old
throne with a Hohenzollorn, which was
certainly the hope Of Papen and
Schleicher and their Junker allies. A
restoration based upon a Reichstao
strength Of but 81 and a popular vote
Of less than 1000 900, in an electorate
Of more than 35,o00,000 would be an
obvious absurdity
In the latest election something like
l3:O0O,OO0 Germans supported the re-
publican parties, less than 100000 the
monarchial cause and more than
100000 the revolutionary parties
that Is, the Communists and the Fas-
cists. This total represented q loss of
about 100000 for the republican
groups, a gain Of .000, 900 for the mon
archists, a loss Of 10000 for the revo-
iutionary parties. Moreover, as I have
already point out, while the Fascists
still remain an Overwhelming majority
amongst the Nationalists, the Com
munists arrived az the very threshold
OF the control Of the proletarian parties.
Finally, while the Catholics stood fast,
with but a minor loss, they remained
unable to fulfill their historic mission
OF serving as q basis for q coalition
either with the left or the right.
Recovery In Doubt.
Now the interest in-this complicated
situation hes precisely In the fact that
with international questions of such
great importance ms those pending be-
fore the adjourned Arms Conference
and the approaching Economic Com
ference, the need Of O strong and rea-
sonable government In Germany Is OBJ
vious. And, again. that sort Of q gov
ernment is patiently lacking. Under
the pressure Of the Nazis any German
cabinet VIII be compelled to take an un-
compromising stand In the matter Of
And it will similarly be driven to de-
mand further alienation in the matter
OF private debts.
Meantime, until there Is some solu-
tlon OF the domestic political crisis.
German economic and financial recoy-
cry must remain a matter of grave
anxiety. Were Hitler a Mussolini or
Papen Bismarck it Is obvious that a
solution might be discovered. But not
only do both men fall short of the
necessary stature but also there is no
other figure in sight. Even Hinden-
ourgs prestige has been shaken by re-
cent events and aside from the old
Marshal there is no man of world cali
Der.
In a word, in the present election.
as in the previous one, a majority Of
Germans have voted for Revolutionary
parties, republican parties remain dis
credited: Monarchist groups have failed
70 win the gamble on which they staked
everything. A world eager for inter-
national conference and consolidation
must still wait upon q chaotic Reich.
Copyright, 1927