Evening star., 1932-06-26
|H|TLER|SM CHANGE
DUE BEFORE POWER
Transformation Probably Will
Precede Ascension of
NaziS to Authority.
BY LOUIS P. LOCHNER.

matte events OF the week OF May 80,
which climaxed in the appointment of
the Won Papen cabinet, new oriental
ton in German political life appears
to have come.
On the face Of things, Germany is
headed straight for Hitler regime
Such an assumption may prove, how
ever, to be based on a very superficial
analysis of the situation. Before Hit
lerism is given chance to take hand
if at all-in the government OF the
Reich 1t will probably undergo a trans
formation not less fundamental than
that which the German body polite
at large is undergoing.
Those who profess to know President
Won Hndenburg's mind say he has no
intention of permitting Hitler to gain
control of the Reich's machinery of
government. Gen. Kurt Won Schleicher,
minister Of defense, won't turn the
army over to the Nazis, at least not so
long as they are inexperienced in gov
ernmental affairs
Assuming that the Hitlerites emerge
as the largest party in Germany at the
coming Reichstag election, it Is con-
ceivabie that several ministries will be
turned over to them. but these will be
neither the defense ministry nor that
of the interior with its authority over
the police. Nor are they likely to Sc
cure the ministry Of foreign affairs, in
which an experienced diplomat is to
be left.
Two Possibilities Seen
AS to the chancelorship, two pos
sibilitieS are envisaged by the Presi-
dents friends. One is that Hitler should
be offered that place, both in recogni-
ton of the political strength of the
Nazis and in order to make him respon-
sible for a program of government in
spired and directed by Won Schleicher.
The other possibility Is that Won
Schleicher may himself take the chan
cellorship and Hitler or his friends be
given more innocuous cabinet posts
The name of Hjalmar Schacht,
former president of the Reichsbank
also looms large among the combina-
tions for the future. He was one of
the first men summoned by Won Papen
as he was constructing his cabinet, but
both agreed the time had not yet come
for Schacht either to become minister
of finance or to resume his post at the
Reichsbank. 1t takes only seven di-
rectcrs OF the Reichsbank to vote the
incumbent, DR.. Hans Luther, who is
bitter foe of imitation, out of his job.
One of the moving forces in bring
ing about the "orientation to the right. q"
of which Bruening was the victim, is
the steel helmet organization Of World
War veterans.
This organization, 1t appears, Is to
be given direct recognition after the
Reichstag elections by the appointment
OF one of their leaders either as min
ister OF defense. in case Won Schleicher
becomes chancellor, or as minister OF
the interior.
Should there be valid reasons why
the able Baron Wilhelm Won Gayl, min
lister of the interior in the Won Papen
cabinet, should remain at his pest, 1t
is also conceivable the steel helmet may
be put in control of the labor ministry
for very specific purpose, namely, to
work out in practical life its scheme for
universal labor duty.
Radicalism Is Problem.
One Of Hitlers problems is the grow
ing radicalism of his National-Socia
storm battalions, which are laying more
and more stress upon the word Social
ism. while the bourgeois elements in
the party emphasize the word National
It is hoped by those now running the
affairs of Germany that the radical
wing Of Hitler'S movement may md an
adequate outlet for its energies in the
scheme for labor duty. and that, with
the radicals thus shaken off. the mod
crates may prove sufficiently tractable
to constitute a source of strength
rather than a hindrance to the present
regime,
Despite all assertions from official
quarters that the venerable president
is not thinking of resigning, once a
Rightist cabinet is firmly intrenched
politically minded people in Germany
are getting ready for such contin-
gency.
1t is an open secret that Hitler would
rather be President of Germany than
ANYTHING else. 1t is equally apparent
that the German Nationalists would
like to see the former crown prince at
the head of the nation-f1rst, perhaps,
as President: then as regent or admin
istrator of the Reich, and. finally-so
their hope runs-as Wilhelm III.
Working Glass Is Solidified.
All this is predicted on the assump-
LlOn JnaJ IIle IeBlHe WHICH HAS tdhCI
hold of affairs almost overnight will
be able to mold Germany in con-
servative direction. On the other hand,
the very openness and brusqueness with
which the new regime has announced
it's purpose and program has solidifled
the German working class as nothing
since the days of the Kapp Rebellion
in 1920 did.
Germany Is in the midst of a class
war The workers are up in arms
against the baronial junker cabinet.
Upon the strength that they can
muster at the coming Reichstag cleo
tions will, in no mean measure. depend
their chances Of crossing the plans
nurtured by Gen. Won Schleicher and
the group of determined Nationalists
which obtained the ear of Hindenburg
| and brought the downfall of Heinrich
Bruening.