Crisis in Germany: Hindenburg Accepts Resignation of Bruening Government

President Hindenburg has to-day accepted the resignation of the German Federal Government under the premiership of Dr. Bruening.

WILL BE REPLACED BY ONE PLEDGED TO VIOLENCE?

The Bruening Government resigned last October, but on that occasion Dr. Bruening immediately reconstituted his Cabinet. This time it is not expected that this will happen, and the forecast is that there may be a Hitlerist Government formed.

Most of the London papers deal with this question to-day. The “Manchester Guardian” devotes an editorial to it, in which, speaking of President Hindenburg’s return to Berlin to-day to consult with the Chancellor, it writes that the general view is that the President favours a continuance of the present Government at least until it is known whether the other European Powers intend seriously to deal with the reparations and war debts question. If not, it says, then the Bruening Government is doomed and will be replaced by one inclined to violence and pledged to repudiation.

There is good reason to suppose, the “Times” writes, that Dr. Bruening was unsuccessful in his request for a reinforcement of his authority by the President, and it would not be surprising if the Cabinet’s resignation was tendered when the adjourned interview is resumed to-morrow. The Chancellor, it is thought in informed quarters, probably requested a sign of the President’s support substantial enough to carry him not only to Lausanne but past it-possibly in the form of extraordinary powers. The naive supposition of his opponents that he should go to Lausanne-the results of which, whether positive or negative, would be painted by them as catastrophically bad for Germany and should then meekly return to disavowal and derision at home can hardly be expected to have appealed to him. There is reason to believe, however, that the Chancellor was unable to make the President see eye to eye with him in this matter. If this is the case, it would suggest that the current criticisms of Dr. Bruening’s administration-that it has been sometimes precipitate and sometimes tardy, that it is not firm enough in foreign policy and so on-have reached the President with sufficient resonance to sway his decision.

In any case, events have reached a pass where it has become essential for Dr. Bruening to know whether he and his colleagues were governing Germany, or personages behind the political scenes. If Dr. Bruening resigns to-morrow, as seems to be expected, the inference will be fairly clear.

ENTRANCE OF NAZIS INTO GOVERNMENT NOT EXPECTED SAYS “TIMES”: POSSIBLY DR. BRUENING WILL BE ASKED TO TRY AGAIN

At the moment the entrance of the Nazis into a coalition does not appear to be expected, the “Times” continues. The Nazis are not eager to enter a Government before Lausanne; all the opportunists are anxious to avoid responsibility before Lausanne, and hope to make much capital by violently attacking any result that it produces.

The present plan seems to be that some politician farther to the right than Dr. Bruening (possibly Count Westarp) should carry on for the present, possibly with tacit Nazi tolerance. It would not be easy to find such a man, and he would not find it easy to collect a Ministry.

Possibly Dr. Bruening would be asked to try again and, if he were willing to forfeit a well-earned rest, he would then return with added authority.

The “News Chronicle” reports that Hitler has reached Berlin at top speed, in the hope that President Hindenburg will wish to consult him at an early date.

In quarters favourable to the Chancellor, it says, however, quite a contrary view is taken of the situation, it being predicted that Dr. Bruening will emerge from the present crisis with enhanced authority.

“FIRST THING AFTER WE HAVE ASSUMED POWER WILL BE GENERAL OFFENSIVE AGAINST {SPAN}###{/SPAN}BY JEWS

Deputy Strasser, the President of the Hitlerist Party in the Reichstag, reviewing the situation last October, when Dr. Bruening’s resignation was announced, claimed that the fall of the Bruening Government meant the beginning of the Hitlerist regime.

The first thing that will happen after we have assumed power, he proclaimed, will be a general offensive against us on the part of Jewry all over the world, such as has never before been known. For a National Socialist Germany will proclaim the end of Jewish domination, and in this regard we are the forerunners of the rest of the world. We shall have a hard fight, but we believe in our mission, and we are convinced of our victory. The first task of our Government will be to act with brutal force. In our first proclamation we shall name all those who bear the guilt for Germany’s misfortunes. We shall name them all, and they will be dealt with as they deserve.