Evening star., 1933-09-17
London Parallels Leipzig
Reichstag Burning Trial
BY A. G. GARDINER.

LONDON, September 16.-Events in
Germany still hold the center of the
European stage.
For the moment, chief interest IN
the German drama for the outside
world is directed at the trial of the men
charged with setting fire to the Reichs-
tag. which opens at Leipzig next
Thursday. The prolonged delay IN
bringing the men to trial and the ex-
traordinary restrictions imposed on the
prisoners in regard to choice Of advo-
Gates has increased the volume OF sus-
picion of a frame-up On an unprece-
dented scale.
AS a means of disclosing to the world
the real facts about the fire. a parallel
trial opened in London this week for
the production of witnesses whose evt-
dence Is Of primary importance to the
defense but who cannot show them
selves on German soil for fear OF arrest
as political outlaws.
The court is composed OF nine dis
tinguished lawyers representing differ
ent countries and including DR.. Fran
cesco Nitti. former premier of Italy;
Dr. Max Huber vice president of the
Swiss Parliament: DR.. George Branting.
son of the late Swedish premier. and
Arthur Garfield Hayes, New York at
torney.
The object of the parallel trial in an
ticipating the Leipzig trial is to secure
the production of vital testimony in
advance in order to compel the official
trial to take cognizance of the facts.
One Of the principal subjects Of the
first days inquiry here was the nature
from the residence occupied by Gen.
Goering to the Reichstag itself. There
is reason to believe that this passage
was used by the incendiaries, who car
ried large quantities of inflammable ma
terial into the building.
Among the witnesses being called are
Rudolph Breitscheid. leader of the Ger
man Socialists: DR.. Hertz. former mem
Der of the Reichstag; Albert Grzesinski.
| former Prussian home secretary and
chief of the Berlin police: DR.. Bernhard,
former editor of the Vossische Zeitung,
and Wilhelm Koenen, the Communist
special importance in establishing an
/ alibi for Torgler.
The arrival of Breitscheid. Bernhard
and Grzesinski in London Wednesday
night for the trial caused some anxiety
| to the authorities. in view Of the Lon
don Daily Herald's publication of an
alleged incitement to murder these and
other distinguished outlaws which was
displayed with photographs on the
notice board of the Nazi Club in Lon
don. Special measures were taken to
secure their safety, as in the case Of
Dr. Albert Einstein, who fled from Bel
gium last Sunday owing to fears of an
attack upon him and is now living In
carefully guarded privacy in Norfolk.
What effect the parallel trial will
have upon the course of the proceed
ings at Leipzig it is impossible to fore
cast, but the expectation here is that II
the trial Is not further postponed some
form of conviction is inevitable, as the
good faith of the Hitler government
in the eyes of the world depends upon
official establishment Of the guilt of
the Communists.
The only alternative to that conclu-
sion is that the government or members
of the government themselves instigated
the crime. The most impressive single
testimony to that effect is the memo
randum OF DR.. Oberfohren. one of the
leaders of the NationaliStS, who are
ton government. This asserts with a
wealth of detail that the fire was or
ganized and carried through by Nazi
leaders whom the memorandum names
In very real sense it is the Hitler
government rather than the Commun-
lists who are on trial at Leipzig.
Apart from this grave issue, the prob
lem before Hitler grows in seriousness
Financial embarrassments have de-
stroyed hopes Of reviving German trade
by sibsidies and doles, and it is claimed
reduction Of unemployed by two mil
lion was only achieved by displacing
female labor and restricting separate
family employment within stringent
limits Minister of Propaganda Goeb-
bels frankly admits that no improve
ment before Spring is in sight. Hence
his extraordinary program Of devices to
enable the country to survive the Win
ter by means of monthly fasts and q
six-penny lottery with house-to-house
] collections.