A MAN OF METTLE

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 762, 7 September 1929, Page 8

A MAN OF METTLE

DR. GUSTAV STRESEMANN

GERMANY’S BEST STATESMAN

A cablegram from Berlin the other day reported that the Allies’ decision to evacuate the Rhineland at an early date had raised still higher in Germany the prestige of Its Foreign A* fairs Minister, Dr. Gustav Stre®,

For some time past Dr. Strjaemann has been recognised as one of the leading statesmen in Europe. In his own country he is acclaimed the greatest master of Parliamentary tactics on the Continent. As Foreign Minister for the German Republic, he supports a policy of understanding with Great Britain and France. His warm admiration for England is disclosed by the fact that one ot his sons is a student at Cambridge. When Dr. Stresemann is not bothered by the perplexities of European politics, he devotes his leisure to the cultivation of roses, and since the late Dean Hole has laid it down in literature that “he who would grow roses well must first have roses in his heart.” there must be something fine in the character of Germany's strongest statesman. The man's character has been delineated by a biographer in a book, "Stresemann: The Man and the Statesman,” as a middle-class, German mixture of the romantic and the practical. In his youthful days, as a student without private means, he wrote poetry by the light of the moon and did translations into verse from the poems of Moore and Longfellow. When the time came to choose a profession. the ardent, idealist refused to become a journalist "because he never would be able to subordinate his own opinion to another man’s, nor write anything contrary to his convictions." Since then, in more mature years, he has, like many other statesmen and prominent statesmen, invaded the field of journalism. If he has not been compelled to subordinate his cwn opinion to another man's he has. indeed, been lucky in his choice of temporary journalistic employers. In any case, when his idealism was lofty and beautiful, he gave rein to the practical side of his “middle-class German mixture, and began to earn his living in Dresden as manager of the Union of German Chocolate Manufacturers. It has not been suggested that he consumed a share of his union’s product, but throughout his career as a politician and statesman there has been no chocolate in his policy. BEFORE THE WAR As a practical German student. Dr. Stresemann made economics his special study. The subject of his thesis for his university degree was “The Development of the Bottled Beer Trade in Berlin!” This title may appear as ludicrous, but the thesis was a triumphant study of the decline of the independent middle class and the replacement of the old beer gardens by garish “beer palaces.” Before Stresemann first entered politics at the age of twenty-nine, he took an active and a brilliant and constructive part in “the tremendous period of activity which, through organisation and co-operation, raised German industry to a height of efficiency that has never been surpassed In any country.” It is a thousand pities that there is not even the shadow- of a Stresemann in New Zealand politics where so many politicians cannot see the Importance of local manufacturers because of the heap of butter and cheese that shortens their vision. Dr. Stresemann’s policy as a builder of German industry was simple and effective—“a strongly federated national industry. with a united front abroad and an elimination of waste at home. He was the pioneer of big industry in Germany, and although he was the agent of employers, he was careful not to forget the interests of the workers. AFTER THE WAR “Stresemann’s post-war career is well known to every newspaper reader. It says much for bis tolerance and broad humanity that he was so quickly able to forget the war spirit and to apply himself with renewed energy to the great task of reconstructing a prostrate and sorely divided Germany. In his foreign policy he has been a constant “Westerner.” and he has steadfastly refused to ally himself with the advocates of the so-called Eastern orientation, who by an unholy alliance with Russia seek to wreak their vengeance on France for the ignominy of defeat. Greatly influenced by Lord D’Abernon, the ablest of all post-war ambassadors, he sought a policy of understanding with France and England. With Lord D’Abernon he is the real creator of Locarno, and the highest tribute to his ability is the fact that he was able to win over eighty per cent, of the people of Germany for his policy.” Gustav Stresemann is a man of courage. A year ago he was struck down by a serious internal complaint. He fights it with work and the power of his will. He is only 51 years of age.