Herr Hugenberg's resignation has not been accepted at the time of writing. Even if President von Hindenburg refuses, it is dificult to see how the former powerful leader of the German Nationalists can_comfortably remain in the Hitler Government. "At the election in February, when the Nazis obtain-€d 17 out-of 39 million votes and, with their Nationalist allies, a clear majority of 80 over all other parties in the Reichstag, and the Prussian Diet, the Nationalists were too work to expect much consideration from Herr Hitler. They could provide only 62 and 48 seats in the two legislatures against 288 and 211 held by the Nazis. Herr von Papen has endeavoured—to strengthen his position by out-Hitlering his Chancellor in a now notorious speech. Herr Hugenberg's "personal" express sion of opinion regarding G many's colonial aspirations was, in reality, nothing more than the logical interpretation of many speeches by Herr Hitler and his henchmen, Yet the Nazi Chancellor evidently considered desirable to. make on May 17 what Sir Austen Chamberlain subsequently described as "a silent withdrawal" of Herr von Papen's speech. Now it li suggested that Herr Hugenbery resignation may be due to the Chancellor's disavowal of supdort of his colleague's pronouncement at the London Conference. However that may be, it is also clear that the suppression of the Steel Helmets is a direct affront to Herr Hugenberg. Even the contention that those organisations were, without the. knowledge of their chiefs, absorbing communists und socialists whom recent Nazi purges had put out of political busine: is not likely to. placate Herr Hugenberg's friends. Much, of course, depends on the extent to which the Nationalists endorse the view that, having given Herr Hitler support, they must unequivocal ly endorse his actions for the, sake of Germany's recovery. Herr Hitler is shrewd enough to perceive the value of that intensely patriotic conviction at this stage. He is determined to capitalise it as rapidly as possible 80 as to create for himself a position which may reasonably, resist all opposition later on, when the economic failure of, Nazi policy is likely to be revealed.
There can hardly be any doubt that Herr Hitler is straining this patriotism to the full. The recent elections " following his appointment to the Chaneelloi ship were deprived of any claim to represent the free and un. fettered vote of the electorate because of the Government's preliminary tactics. During February hundreds of newspapers of the Left and Centre Parties were suppressed, the radio monopolised and countless meetings proscribed. Herr Hitler and his supporters, indeed, proclaimed their intention of remaining in office, whether successful or not. This" policy may or may not have been just fied. The fact remains "that support gained in such circumstances has definite defects which, as disillusionment grows, may make their existence unpleasantly felt. Herr Hugenberg is reported to be rage the question whether the "Enabling Act" passed. on March 28 is valid when the Nazis have parted company with his own forces, The answer seems, surely, to be that the Act in question' gave Herr Hitler rights to dispense with Parliamentary' approval of his actions for the space of four years. The Nazis have not concealed their contempt for Parliajealled on to respect the limita-ions of Parliament's gift of dictatorship is amusingly naive. Herr Hitler in fact wrested the Enabling Act from the Reichstag by the same sort of argument Wwhich he applied to the elec-iterate. He said:
"The existence neither of the Reichstag nor of the Reichsrat is threatened. The position and rights of the President remain untouched. The existence of the State is' not threatened. The Fights of the Churches are not diminished nor their relation to the State altered. The number be had to such a gases. in which, recourse must but the Government insists the more firmly that it be passed. The Government will regard its, rejection asad of stance. (Now, gentlemen, you selves decide for peace Looking back on events which have occurred since March it is permissible to note that Herr Hitler has interpreted—hi assurances in a most generous spirit, hat recourse Ue" the Prestige If Herr Hugenberg thinks will save his sorely discomfited face he is" doomed to disappointment. Herr von. Papen land he a few months ago hoped that, as a couple of capable equestrians, they could imitate the young lady of Riga, To-day ithe smile is on the face of the tiger. Trade Unions, Boy Scouts, have had to bow to the Nazi leader. Humour has to be dulously kept in leash, although Dr. Goebbels has evolved the idea of a Nazi made con Hon for the swastika "hearty
appetite grows by eating.
the Hitler programme. Proceeds, difficulties are encountered. They are found to due to the fact that certain interests do not happen respond directly te the decrees lof Nazidom, 'The remedy is simple. Let there be first a formal arraignment,—then seizure of the organisation' machinery, then its reconstit with everything in its proper place as part of the Nazi system. The programme can go forward once more. Another obstacle has been carefully eliminated by the steamroller. Press censorship has been ed to facilitate this metamorphosis. Herr Hitler is determined to stay. He~ has destroyed so much of the previous regime that his dictatorship alone can function at the moment. The humiliation which has inflicted on German scholarship, German science and German philosophy is so deep that no-one but he can bear responsibility for the nation's present mood. There Herr Hugenberg—as_ a newspaper magnate—may find consolation Nazi propaganda' thumbscrew, just when a further twist of the produces on the front pages of German newspapers events which have yet to be seen by the general public, to say nothing of those newspapers' own respon. sible reporters. Herr Hitler in his role of dictator is evidently taking a leaf from the book of the true demagogue. No rivals fare allowed. So Herr von Papen jand Herr Hugenberg can acquire merit only by complete subser-vince to their volatile chief and former opponent. Whether thi demagogue dictatorship will win through remains to be seen. Apparently the notion that it could be diluted or made respectable by discreet alliance with the Nationalist parties is not acceptable to Herr Hitler.
may feel that undivided responsibility is necessary for mitigating certain grim asper in the Nazi pro-, gramme. If that is his object there is a chance that he may succeed in putting Germany leven yet on a securer foundation. For, as things stand, Herr Hitler cannot deceive himself, whatever
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.