The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. THURSDAY, APRIL 30th, 1925.

Hokitika Guardian, 30 April 1925, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. THURSDAY, APRIL 30th, 1925.

TH'K GERMAN SITUATION. The return of General Hindenburg to the Presidency of the German Republic is having a disturbing influence on European politics. The French papeis are loud in their denunciation, but the remarks follow a familiar strain. France, we may be sure, has not been taking Germany seriously as regards any change of heart following the outcome of the war. Germany was so intensely military before that it would lie remarkable indeed were the nation to throw off the effects of a life's training in a moment. France had to bite the dust in the Franco-Prussian war, and we know tnere was no change of heart for France. The nation bided its time, and when the opportunity for revenge came, France entered blithely into the great conflict. The German people will be just as much unchanged—and Germany will not remain pacific jonger th a P she is forced t° (]° by some

superior ,Power or 'combination o; Powers, .lust whether Germany cumoiillaged with the institution of a Bcpublic in order to secure improved peace terms, is an aspect of tho whole question which is being discussed very gravely at present. ’Hut while the liepnbliean effort was in ; rogress, tlie Monarchist element was far from I cing subdued. Hindenhnrg, now an old man, is more a figure to conjure by than a figure fop concrete action. It is not the man; it is the party he stands for. On that account the position as between Germany and the Allies will not lie easier. It will be more diflicolt. Not without reason, flame will he showing more distrust in the honesty of purpose of Germany, and frame can inihmie herself very easily when in that mood of thought. 11 Oldenburg as a figure stands for strength of purpose. Wha.t the Allies have keen looking for is not an unbending Germany, but a nation whose sentiments will he .peaceful and whose guarantee in that direction may 1 lie relied upon. But oil no account ran Ilindenburg be believed in io; resent such a line of policy. He stands for what Germany is at heart and from its life’s training—militarist, ’file bliiideiihurg line in the Great War was believed to lie somelhug solid and impregnable. and despite that failure and the revelations which followed. Itindenbiti'g is still an idol of tho people wielding great power over the nation. This, then, is the situation Europe, has Is .face, f.ven though there may not fie any immediate change in the policy of Germany, or any move in that direction, the fear that .something is in embryo will keep European polities in a ferment. The result of the election, cannot, therefore, be helpful to the situation. France will be more uneasy than ever, and perhn|>s not without reason, and with that disturbing element in the Allied camp, matters will remain perturbed. But though Ilindenburg in person may not seek to do anything personally to justify misgiving, the following behind him is notably recall,Grant. The Monarchists have ever l>een aiming at the restoration of the Kaiser. That unseated monarch again comes into the picture, but it i doubtful indeed if the Allies for a moment would countenance such a step. If Germany is to show bona tides at the present juncture it must he of a practical nature (ovoring fulfillment of peace treaty conditions. To seek at the present moment to delay action will assist to arouse further suspicion, and more than ever justify the French distrust of the whole situation. Germany will have to fato a fresh tension of national affairs, and Hindenhnrg is not the likely man to do or say anything which would he very helpful at such a juncture. Bather will he seek to unity the German people as a means to gain assured strength, and in that condition, he in a better position to bring in again a militarist period. He is of the war-machine period, too old now to change his disposition and it can well be understood where his thoughts and desires lie. It is in that stale of affairs that there is the gravest danger at the present time.