Evening star., 1933-06-30
PR0TESTANTS TORN
BY NA1 DEGREES
Crisis Due Sunday in Choice
Between Conscience and
Government.
BY the Associated Press.

BERLIN, June 30IProtestant
churchmen in Prussia must choose
next Sunday between dictates of con-
science and dictates of an increasingly
powerful Na1 government
If they choose one. they will approve
the Nazis' wish for dominance of all
walks Of life, including religion: If they
choose the other, they will be liable
to prosecution.
Their own leaders have asked that
Sunday be a day Of prayer-of suppli-
cation for freedom to conduct their
religious life as they desire
But Nazi commissioners have ordered
that the day be one Of THANKSGIVING
in which pastors and elders shall thank
God that the Hitlerites control theoreti-
cally the churches as they do the in
dustrial, political and commercial life Of
the Reich
Must Fly Nasi Flags
ne Nazis have ordered further that
f2gs be flown at the churches. the
black. white and red Of old and the new
Germany, and the swastika emblem
under which the Hitlerites have grown
in power.
Those Protestants who have rallied
behind Rev. Friedrich Won Bodel-
schwingh as the new Reichsbishop. in
the face of strong Naz oposition. feel
the Hitlerite orders challenge the free
dom OF conscience.
Already a number Of young clergy
men, many of whom won the Iron
Cross for valor in the World War have
declared their intention of defying the
governments orders
Aroused, they say they subscribed to
q recent pastoral letter OF the bishop
and IS superintendents-ge in
which the appointment OF Dr. August
Jaeger. NaZi, as Protestant commits
sioner in Prussia. was challenged on the
grounds 1t was an interference with re-
ligious liberty.
Dr. Won Bodelschwingh's followers
consider it especially unfair that Nan
commissioners should try - make any
body declining to fly the hags look like
an enemy Of the state. and those who
do so seem to indorse the governments
church reorganization.
Three DEGREES Issued.
The Na1 commissioners issuer three
DEGREES:
The first addressed to Prussian
Protestant clergymen. forbade pastors
to criticize the governments church
measures on pain Of disciplinary pun
ishment and dismissal from Office and
even criminal prosecution.
The second told the church congre-
cations that until the hour strikes
when the Protestant Church has a new
constitution, all acts against the well
meant intention of the state must be
matter where or by whom committed"
The third threatened disciplinary
punishment for any superintendent who
obeys or spreads the pastoral letter OF
the superintendents-gene
Meanwhile, as continuation OF the
Nazi church policy. Rev. Ludwig Muel-
Ter declared himself head Of the Ger
man Evangelical Union and chairman
of the Protestant Supreme Council.
He issued q statement saying state
of emergency exists which endangers
the essential unity of the people and
the church." 1t was he who was re-
iected when the church groups elected
Dr. Won Bodelschwingh, a non-political
candidate. as Reichbishop, a position he
wanted.
Catholic Centists May Disband.
Political circles considered imminent
today the voluntary disbandins of the
Catholic Center party, the last non-
Nazi political group in Germany.
Facing q threat of dissolution by the
government of Chancellor Hitler. Gen.
trist leaders met here and are believed
to have reached an agreement with the
Hitlerites whereby their 73 Reichstag
members will. like those Of the dissolved
Nationalists. join the Nazis as hos
pitants. or guests"
Such an eventuality would swell the
- lnto re toto oil 0f
AL seats in Parliament. now recessed.
The other seats are held by Bavarian
Populists. whose leaders are in protec-
tive custody. and split-up parties. The
Socialists and Communists have been
eliminated by the NaZiS.
Meanwhile another step toward the
Nazi "uniflcation" of Germany was
taken with the announcement of Rob-
ert Ley, Hitler's trade union commits
sioner. that Protestant and Catholic
workers and apprentices societies were
incorporated into one Nazi labor front.
Kurt Schmitt. head Of the largest in
surance firm on the continent. and
walter Darre, who has been Chancellor
Hitlers chief farm adviser were ap-
pointed yesterday as ministers of eco
nomics and agriculture, respectively.
New Ministers Named.
They succeed to the two portfolios in
the Hitler cabinet which were held by
DR.. Alfred Hugenberg. They also sue
ceed the Nationalist leader in the cor
responding portfolios in the Prussian
State government.
The announcement of their appoint
mentS followed upon flying visit by
Hitler to- the home of President Won
Hindenburg in Neudeck. East Prussia.
1t was announced that the aged presi-
dent. who empowered Hitler as chan
cellor and surrounded him with a cab
met including mostly NationalistS, ac-
cepted DR.. Hugenberg's resignation.
Jewish Partnership Banned.
No Aryan attorney is permitted to
have any connection, such as partner
ship or joint Offices. with a Jewish at
torney, under rules issued today by the
Berlin Federation Of Attorneys. Nor
may any Aryan attorney engage a Jew
for legal investigation.
The ban also extends to lawyers ex-
cluded from the federation for Leftist
leanings. Numerous firms gave notice
to their Jewish employees, today being
the last day OF the second calendar
quarter. .-
ASKS GEORGIA ROAD