Hitlerist Menace in Germany Growing: Heavy Increase in Poll in Oldenburg Parliamentary Elections: Fe

The Hitlerists have sprung a surprise to-day on the whole country where it was believed that they had reached the high tide of success in the Federal Parliamentary elections of September by almost doubling their vote in the elections which have just taken place to the Parliament of the Republic of Oldenburg, one of the States of the German Republic in which the important town of Luebeck is situated. In the Reichstag elections of last September the Hitlerists polled 76,200 votes in Oldenburg, while to-day their told game to as much as 101,500. They have increased their representation from 5 to 19 of the total number of 49 Deputies in the Oldenburg Parliament. The Centre (Catholic) Party is believed to have obtained 9 seats, the Socialists 11,4 less than they had in the last Parliament, and the Communists, who had only one seat previously, have now obtained three. The People’s Party, the Democratic State Party. and the Peasants’ Party, have all suffered heavy losses.

The Hitlerists and their allies, the German Nationals and the other parties of the Right have not, however, succeeded in obtaining a clear majority and control of the Parliament, and consequently it is not likely that the Hitlerists will be able to come into the Coalition Government.

The result of the Oldenburg election is, never the less, causing anxiety among the Jewish and Democratic leaders, who fear that it will encourage the other parties of the Right to exercise more pressure upon the Centre Party to get it to agree to the inclusion of a Hitlerist Minister in the Federal Government, as well as to break up the Coalition Government in Prussia by dropping the Socialist member of the Government and replacing him by a Hitlerist.

The Prime Minister, Dr. Bruening, has declared again, the J.T.A. learns, that under no condition will he agree to a Hitlerist being a member of any Government of which he is the head. The parties of the Right are ready, however, to accept the situation which would be created by Dr. Bruening resigning the premiership, and Dr. Wirth, the leader of the Centre Party resigning the Ministry of the Interior. They would in that event redouble their efforts to get Dr. Wirth removed from the leadership of the Centre Party, replacing him by someone in the Party who has leanings towards the Right. Democratic quarters are convinced, however, that Dr. Bruening will stand firm at his post. It is also suggested that Oldenburg, which is very little developed industrially, is hardly indicative of the feeling in the country as a whole and that the Hitlerist success there may not be repeated over a larger area.