March 15.
The resuit of the general election in Germany is remarkable for the conclusions to be reached therefrom. Taking an international point of view the results are satisfactory indicating a continuance of that which is the only real bulwark against, the continual schemings of the Communists throughout the world, In that respect it amounts almost to severe a rebuff as was administered by the British electorate last year, and also indicates that voters approach their duties in a different manner whom the fortunes of the State are concerned, from that in which they decide [provincial and state diet elections, President von Hindenburg's majority of more than seven millions over Herr Hitler is emphatic. It is positive proof of the sanity of the electorate and a very definite expression of will. Herr Hitler's figures come somewhat as a surprise. The progress which the radical parties had made since the last wer ral elections led to the impression that he would have given the veteran President a sterner fight than the result ultimately showed he di the Eastern districts where the masses have felt the depression more keenly ind where the fear of Polish aggression and privat tion had tended to radicalism the electorate Herr Hitler had a heavy poll, but even there only two towns returned substantial majorities in his favour. In the capital, western and southern Germany President von Hindenburg established a long lead over his most important rival only failing on the grand totals to secure a clear majority over all opponents by 168,000 votes, or 45 per cent. of the total votes polled, The total of about five million votes polled by the Communists need not come as much of a surprise, even though it does represent a ratio of about one communist in seven of the electorate and it seems reasonable to believe that though it advanced somewhat during past few years—an advance which, however, was not fully maintained at this election—the Communists have a very long way to go before, standing by themselves, they will have any' practical weight in German polities. What is even more im. portant is that the German people have declared emphatically against the Fascist form of government which the success of Herr Hitler and his party would bring into being. That is a type of government which can only be adapted by certain races; its suitability for any particular country can only be ascertained y empiric tests, a course of experimenting upon which Germany has no apparent desire to embark, Nevertheless the fact that Herr Hitler has a following fof about one-third of the electorate is an important point to be posi borne in mind. It establishes; him as a very considerable power the land, even though it has not placed the reins of government in his hands. Tt is not to be believed that the Nazis will relax any of their work on behalf of their leader before the second poll on April 10. There is ways a chance that confidence in the result of second poll may, through concomitant slackness on the part of President von Hindenburg's supporters, give the Hitlerites a better chance of sugeess than they had at thi first contest, though it is extremely improbable that they will be able to reverse what must have been a bitter blow to their [cherished hopes.
At this juncture it is safe to hazard a guess that they will remain very much the same, though the Government wilt have behind it the authority of a recently express led verdict of the country its policy as a whole. That Is a matter of very considerable im-
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.