Evening star., 1934-07-17
Coming Events in Germany.

Coming Events in Germany.
Only an optimist can imagine that
the apparent quiet that followed Hit
ler's defense Of the Mani blood purge
indicates that peace and tranquility
have returned to Germany. There
Is. on the contrary, mounting evi-
denoe that such calm AZ exists Is only
that which precedes the storm. Prob
lens Of grave economic distress rather
than political strife beset the Dictator
ship. Grim questions OF vanishing
food supplies and dhIocated trade, do
mestic and foreign. rise up TO torment
the government, now that the firing
squads Of Hitler and Goering have
done their work.
Mondays revolt at Goettingen, when
a thousand students OF that historic
university engaged in q pitched battle
with Nazis, Is a symptom OF rising
discomfort and disiliusionment. 1t is
noteworthy as indicating that even
the youth Of the nation, upon whose
support Hitlerism has mainly relied,
Is restive and beginning to question
National Socialisms ability to deliver
the fantastic goods 1t promised the
German people.
Foreign observers at Berlin unite
in reporting that behind outward Or
deriineS popular disQuiet is percep-
tible and growing. The delirious en-
thusiasm OF the nrst Maxi year has
disappeared. Economic woes daily be-
come more oppressive. There is
shortage in staple necessities like po-
tatoes, margarine and breadstuffs.
Food rationing Is In the offing. Lv-
ing costs are going up. Hoarding and
profiteering are on the increase. Hit
ler's unemployment campaign has put
people back to work, but many firms
are compelled to hire men they do
not need. This has reduced profits
and dividends and neceSsitated wage
cuts to permit work to be spread"
Wholesale discomfort Is the result.
The Governments financial trou-
bles are reaching the desperate stage.
The Reichsbank's holdings OF gold
and foreign exchange are down to
the grotesquely low ratio Of two per
cent coverage for the currency, and
how long. under such conditions. de-
valuation Of the mark and imitation can
be avoided conjures up not the least
OF the Reich's perpleMties. Mean
time, Germanys creditors. including
the United States, are demanding that
she take immediate steps to fulfill her
international obligations, despite the
wreckage OF her export trade due
to Mani policies and the worldwide
boycott OF German goods.
With ReichSwehr and Storm Troops
more or less loyal, the Hitler autoc-
racy is probably in no immediate
peril, but If stomachs are emptier when
Winter comes and the economic out
look generally is as bleak as it is to-
day, it would be rash prophet who
would predict the prolongation Of the
dictatorship. The blood purge has
left countless enmities behind. Ad-
herents Of the executed Storm Troop
leaders are in vengeful mood. Gen.
Won Schleicher's militarist group has
not forgotten. Col. Won Papen'S
friends are resentful. The powerful
Catholic element will not soon for
give the killing OF two Of Its outstand-
ing leaders.
All the ingredients for q violent up
heaval in Germany are present or in
the making 1t will be little short OF
a miracle II Hitler, Goering and Goeb-
bells can avert or survive 1t. One thing
becomes increasingly certain. They
can expect little sympathy or support
from an outside world. in which NaSi
Germany today Is all but an interna-
tiof1al outcast.