The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 31, 1920. EVENTS IN GERMANY.

Taranaki Daily News, 31 March 1920, Page 4

The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 31, 1920. EVENTS IN GERMANY.

The recent militarist fiasco in Germany has been followed by events that may have a marked influence on the future of that eountrv. It has brought about a change of government in which the Social Democrats hold half the portfolios, the other moiety being equally divided between the Democrats and the Centre Party. It has also inflamed the workers to such an extent that they (the Reds, or Communists) claim to have raised an army of 120,000 men, evidently possessing artillery, for the booming of guns in the direction of Wesel is said to have been continuous. Tlie present object of the Reds is stated to be directed to the overthrow of the Reichswehr, rather than the establishment of Communism, and their leaders assert that any attempt to disarm the workers" will unchain a terrible civil war. A factor in this militancy is the intense hatred of the Reds for the Government troops, as the result of which a strong popular army was in course of formation, indicating that the extremists will not tolerate any step towards the restore tion of militarism or autocracy. The attempt failed, but tlie spirit remains. Properly guided and with the elimination of communistic aims the new Cabinet should, be the means of placing democratic Government on a firm basis in Germany, though the proeess may involve serious disturbances before the desired end is achieved. Some light on current events in Germany may be obtained by a survey of the situation iu 19.12, when it was considered that the internal position was in the melting pot. the predominant domestic question being the bitter struggle of the masses for a fuller share iu Government. In an admirable article written l:y the Berlin correspondent of the Daily Mail it was stated that to break the autocratic authority vested in the Kaiser and tlie Ministers responsible to him alone, and transfer it to the elected representatives of the nation, was the goal to which German political energies would be directed for the indefinite future, but there were those who thought it would never

be reached before the streets of Berlin ran red with proletariat Mood. It is interesting to note that the Social Democrats, who now compose half the Ministry, were its most vehement protagonists. They looked forward to ihe elections that year with confident assurance of being returned to Parliament in greater strength. That they were justified in this optimism was evidenced by the fact that the elections brought the Socialists an unparalleled victory, for they polled considerably more than a third of the aggregate vote of 12,198,337, giving them 130 seats and making them the strongest party in the Reichstag. At that time the principal groups in the Reichstag consisted of two branches of Conservatives who both subordinated everything to patriotism and the protection of vested interests. Needless to say, Herr Bauer's cabinet has no place for these Pan-Germans. The p-.-w----erful Centre group was regarded as an opportunist party, whose action could never be gauged beforehand, being sometimes Radical, sometimes ultra-Conservative, but at all times subjecting everything else to the interests of the Catholic Church, The National Liber als can best be judged by their complaint that the "mailed fist" was not raised often or vigorously enough. They, too, have dropped out of fashion to-day. The Radicals opposed Socialism, were free traders, but were often more Liberal in their opinions than the Socialists, who advocated the nationalisation of most forms of production and favored free trade. Strong as the Socialists were, they could only make themselves a force in Parliament by alliance with other parties, but their policy was more designed to alienate allies than to attract them. In Ml2 many Germans, of the same type as Professor Hans Delbruck, regarded an Anglo-German Armageddon for the mastory of Europe as almost unavoidable, but the great masses of the German people did })(;', Avant, Avar, but would no!: shrink from it, once convinced that vital interests or national honor were at stake, and that was why the Militarists wilfully misled the people as to the origin of the war, and brought about Hie conditions under which, to-day. the aim of the Socialists is likely to_ materialise. In the light of this brief review, the events that are now happening in Germany may possibly be better comprehended. The Extremists have learnt much from the Bolshevik movement in Russia. As the new Ministry is constituted, the Social Democrats and Democrats hold between them the balance of power, and if they handle the outbreak by the Reds with firmness and tact, it may be that the worst phase of Germany's domestic trouble will pass and give way to a better understanding all round. At the same time it is perfectly clear that the army controlled by the Government having failed to deal effectively with the Monarchist forces, the Reds are incensed against these regular troops, which are mistrusted and regarded as traitors. Now that Herr Bauer has formed his Ministry the people will naturally look for the carrying out of democratic principles. Apparently the crucial hour has arrived in the German political situation, and keen interest will be evinced in the development that must ensue. Skilfully handled the situation can be turned to the lasting benefit of Ihe country, but the elements of dan* ger are so conspicuous that the slightest insincerity or disposition to intrigue on the part of the Government may precipitate a revolution that will play into the hands of the autocrats. America has .given a serious warning on this matter that will probably be heeded. Moreover, the mas.? of the people ought to realise by now that their best interests will be served by politically rebuilding . Germany on democratic lines.