KAISER’S MILLIONS

Hokitika Guardian, 22 June 1926, Page 2

KAISER’S MILLIONS

VOTING AGAINST CONFISCATION. [Australia it N.Z. Cable Association.] BERLIN, June JJ. The official figures of the referendum are as follows:—* For Confiscation 14,889,703 Against Confiscation 7,42] ,311 .Majority for 9,468,392 MOST PEOPLE REFUSE TO VOTE. MAJORITY THREE MILLION SHORT.

BERLIN. Juno 21. At least nineteen million votes were necessary to carry the referendum in favour of the confiscation of the ex-Ruler’s property without compensation, whereas it is estimated that only sixteen million voted for the proposals, which was. thoretore, defeated.

Only thirty-five per cent of the electorate voted, while sixty per c< lit abstained from voting, and tlie remaining five per cent voted either “no” or invalidly.

Nearly half of the electorate of Berlin voted for confiscation, and a similar proportion in other huge cities, including President- Hindenburg’s town of Hanover, but? in the country districts, where the Nationalists hold sway, the populace obeyed the Nationalist leaders ’summons to abstain front voting.

It is noteworthy that not a single Cabinet member entered a booth. Notwithstanding the excitement endangered, there were no serious disorders, hevotid minor clashes at Berlin and elsewhere among small factions.

REASON FOR- ABSTENTIONS. CLEVER MONARCHIST TACTICS. LONDON, June 21. The Berlin correspondent of the “Times” states: There wore no disturbances, because it takes two to make a quarrel. Only one side appeared in strength at- the booths, The opponents of confiscation realising that abstention was as effective as the vote. Nevertheless, beneath the surface there was an omnibus undercurrent of feeling. The campaign was so hitter that it bordered on childishness. Neither side showed the slightest restraint, hat issued the most extravagant leaflets and caricatures beyond the limits of decency.

Precautionary lorry loads of police followed the Communist processions, the chief feature of which was a man grotesquely caricaturing the ex-Kaiser in an imitation ermine robe, a crown, a sceptre, and an exaggerated moustache, haranguing the crowds with ribald speeches as a burlesque of the exKaiser’s former bombast-. On the other hand, the 'Monarchists cleverly distributed last minute leaflets, purporting to emulate front fbe Socialists, and worded to resemble the most virulent “Red” pamphlets, describing the Princes -as abandoned creatures. whoso property ought to be confiscated, adding a popular war <>v, “Not- a Penny for the Princes, ’ hut misleadingly finishing “Therefore Vote Nein!” Thereby the Monarchists hoped to delude the ignorant into voting against, under tile belief that they supported confiscation. Tho Monarchists -also announced the aiiti-eonfiscationists must not vote, thereby intimidating many of the employees of the Monarchist firms, wild feared that if they went to the polls, it would He known that they voted confiscation, although the ballot supposedly was secret. j KAL^KU-'ANXIOUS. BERLIN. June 21. 'l’lie ex-Kaiser Wilhelm, -at Doom, sat up until two o’clock in the morning to hear the latest results of the referendum telephoned to him from Berlin.

The public of Germany learnt the progress of the voting by means of electric sky signs, and also by special issues of the newspapers every half hour. It became clear at midnight that the jircposnl to ex-proprintc the ex-rulers had been defeated. Heavy rain fell, which damped the spirits of the rival demonstrators, hut the in in did not materially decrease the voting. The Communists and Socialists left nothing to chance. Voters who could not Walk were carried to the polls on stretchers.

There was a reign of terrorism in many country districts, however, the monarchists’ agents attending the booths and taking down Ibe names of voters, openly stating that they would be severely dealt with later. The worst disturbances were nt Aramendorf, near -Holle, where, in a five light between Communists and Radicals, shots were fired. Twenty v ere injured.