Evening star., 1932-06-05
Bruening Ministership
Fall Affects Britain
BY A. G.. GARDINER.

LONDON, June 1.-Two events, the
fall Of Chancellor Heinrich Bruenlng
in Germany and acceptance by the
United States of the British proposal
for a world economic conference, have
profoundly affected the prospects Of
the reparations meeting in Lausanne
next week
Bruening's fall. though regarded as
possibility, came with unexpected sud-
denness and in a manner totally un-
looked for. The surrender of President
Paul Won Hindenburg to the Prussian
iunkers is criticized as the betrayal Of
a man to whom Won Hindenburg mainly
owed his reelection to the presidency
of the republic. Students of the Ger
man situation agree that Chancellor
Fritz Won Papen is only momentary
incident in the terrific and incalculable
drama of the German crisis, for he not
only lacks the support of the Socialists,
but Is unacceptable to the Nazis.
But whatever is the effect on the in
ternal situation in Germany, the result
elsewhere Is lamentable. It has cast O
chill over the growing sympathy in this
country with regard to German griev-
ances by reviving the suspicion that
Prussianism is still rampant 1t is ad-
mitted that it was the failure of allied
policy to give support to the moderate,
statesmanlike policy of Bruening which
was chiefly responsible for driving Ger
many into the arms of the reactionary
extremists. but the consequences are
none the less deplorable.
The effect in France is especially un-
fortunate. The changing attitude Of
French opinion has been the most hope
m n ta ty1to hot
Eduoard Herriot still clings to the de-
lusion of the military security Of
France in spite Of the defeat Of that
policy at the polls. He refused to ac-
cept Leon Blum's and other Socialist
leaders offered basis Of participation
In the new government, but the fact
does not affect the leftward trend Of
French policy. as illustrated by Paul
Painleve's remarkable speech last Sum-
day, the day before the overthrow Of
Bruening in Germany. Moreover,
Though Blum's overtures were not ac-
cepted, the existence of Herriot's gov
ernment must depend largely on So
cialist support in the Chamber, and the
price of that support will be a more lib
eral attitude in regard to disarmament
and reparations and Franco German
reconciliation.
But it Is needless to assume that
Bruening's fall means the destruction
Of all hope for the Lausanne Confer
ence. Bruening himself had committed
Germany to a final reputation Of rep
arations and Won Papen can 60 no fur
ther in that direction. This is the
crux of the Franco-German issue at
Lausanne, and the question to be dis
cussed here is what policy Britain will
adopt. Ought she to support the Ger
mans in reputation of reparations at
the risk Of offending France? There
is general feeling favorable to total
cancellation as the first step in Euro
pean recovery, though there is consid-
erable support for the view that Ger
many should agree to moderate token
Of payment when stability is re-estab-
lished
If England adopts the German policy
OF reputation she will be confronted
with the question of payment of her
own war debt to the United States. The
idea that the debt can continue to be
paid after the reparations and debts
due to England have ceased to be re-
ceived is generally rejected, but re-
sponsible opinion is agreed that the
country cannot simply announce to the
Americans that it proposes to wipe out
iCS NHolc LloeUteQneSS 10 them with
or without their leave.
Can Britain persuade the Americans
to cancellation? Can a settlement at
Lausanne be made contingent on the
United States canceling the debts? Can
such q settlement be carried into the
subsequent conference on the stabilize
ton Of world commodity prices? These
questions are anxiously being discussed.
The fact is appreciated that the
United States excludes debts, repara-
tions and tariffs from the purytev
Of the world conference. But the oues-
ton Is asked whether 1t is possible to
keep these vital matters out of a dis
cussion of international trade, prices
and the general economic condition of
the world without robbing the discus
sion Of reality and practical achieve
ment
(Copyright, 1897