GERMAN PLEBISCITE

Hokitika Guardian, 14 November 1933, Page 5

GERMAN PLEBISCITE

NAZIS’ HUGE LEAD

/VRMAMENT DECISION ENDORSED

(United Presa Association— .By Eleetri* ieiegrupii—Copyi-rgnw vi BERLIN, November 'l3. 3he latest figures in trie -German election are: REICHSTAG ELECTION. In favour of Nazi’s ... 39,655,268 Invalid ... 3,352,289 Nazi majority .... ... 36,392,979 PLEBISCITE. Yes ... 40,618,147 No ... 2,055,363 Invalid vv. •' 790,910 Yes majority ’ .... 36,771,874 PARTICULARS OF THE VOTING NAZIS OBTAIN HUGE MAJORITY ■ BERLIN, November 12. The early returns showed that the polling exceeded the J most - optimistic expectations. In several instances there was a 100 per ceilt poll in rural centres, with an almost 100 per cent “Yes” vote, even in centres which were formerly Socialist and Com*munist strongholds. Hitherto 85 per cent was the highest poll recorded in Germany, The electoral (System, which provides that one member shall be returned for every 60,090 votes, prevents a voter expressing preference for a particular candidate. • • I)r Hngenberg (Nationalist leader) and Dr Albert Hackelsberger (Centre Catholic© Party) are almost the only non-Nazi candidates. No. women are on the lists. ... ■

In the Baxarjan Palantinate, where the Nazis, at the last election secured only 47 per cent of the votes cast 99 per cent voted in favour of the Government’s ‘ policy. All hut 673 of 77,871 entitled to vote in the. Palatinate, went; to the polls.

On a second paper, th© voters were asked to . choose the new . Reichstag, which was, a mere, formality.. The absence of .a competitive element, however, did. not affect, the intensity; of the Government’s propaganda. Every town, and village was heflagged. Long queues were outside the taverns, employed as ’polling booths, while elaborate arrangements were made •; for the votes of Germans living abroad.

NAZIS JUBILANT AT RESULT.

THE OPPOSITION SUPPRESSED

LONDON, November 12,

In the German elections, how completely the opposition has J>een suppressed ’is : indicated by the “Daily Telegraph's” Berlin correspondent, who says that in traversing .twenty miles of ' the city streets, lie failed ' to see an emblem of any of the dissolved parties. Some 'citizens, however, openly displayed German colours without the Swastika.- He says that disagreement with the. official candidates 'could be expressed, only by refraining from marking one’s paper, or by spoiling it. Chancellor Hitler spent , the evening in listening to the election results over the radio.. President von Hindenburg, instead of going to bed, stayed up ■with the members of his family. Prominent Nazis who have been elected include Prince August Wilhelm; Hevr Fritz Thyssen, the steel king;, -and Herr Schnee, the former Governor of German East Africa. The fact that more votes have been recorded in the plebiscite than in the 'Reichstag .election is due to the fact "that the Catholic clergy in many districts have advised the Catholics to abstain from voting in the Reichstag election. The Nazis are jubilant at the result. They express .the opinion that it is - a splendid demonstration of faith in Kerr Hitler, in which 677 Nazi Deputies : have been elected, as compared .wijdi .288 Nazis last. March. An amnesty for political prisoners may shortly be declared.

COMMENT IN BRITISH PRESS. LONDON, November 13. The “News Chronicle’s" Berlin correspondent says:. “The result of the “one, way”, German election must pdssess but slight value among foreigners. Nevertheless, it shows that far. more than half the nation is ranged behind Chancellor Hitler. A striking feature of the poll is Herr Hitler’s big success in „ the industrial Ruhr region, where millions of pitmen and ironworkers six months ago vot<ed Communist, but have now rallied to his standard. The Centre of Roman Catholic Organisation alone seem to have displayed slight opposition to the Nazi regime. It is expected that this will 'be stamped out."

“The Times” says:' “The double referendum to which Germany has been subjected, lias produced an in-

evitable result, since to cast a hosy lile vote woud have been to he stigmatised as treacherv, and behind treachery, there stands the shadow of the dreaded concentration camps. Herr Hitler has now standardised the nation. \ Officially there is no other sort of German than the Nazi.”