The New Reichstag

The final strength of parties will not be known until after the new Reichstag (elected a fortnight ago) meets on May 22. The Socialists, according to late information, obtained 100 seats, and the Nationalists 96. The latter, however, claim nine votes of the Landbund Party, which would give them 105 seats and make them the largest party in the Reichstag. This question is to be settled by vote of the Reichstagers.

President Ebert held conference with Chancellor Marx regarding the elections (TIME, May 12). Much doubt was evinced in political circles as to which party would be asked to form a government, but the choice lay have been Chancellor Marx and Dr. Oskar Hergt, leader of the Nationalists. The Government will of necessity be a coalition and it was widely recognized that the Nationalists would have to be represented in order that the Government can muster a two-thirds majority necessary co passing the Dawes report.

Meanwhile, Dr. Hergt issued a manifesto on behalf of the Nationalists, repudiating the Extreme Nationalists such as General Ludendorff and stating that his party, if in power, would not sign promises unless it could fulfill them. He wanted certain reservations made, the precise nature of which were not known; but he stated that his attitude by no means presupposed rejection. As utter chaos stares Germany in the face, if she reject the Dawes plan, its ultimate passage is certain. This was recognized by moderates of all Parties. The torrent of editorials in the American press to the effect that the election was to test the Republican sentiment of the country is incorrect. The big issue was financial reconstruction. The Extreme Monarchists were perhaps the only members of parties committed to overthrowing the Republic, and they were in the minority.

When completed, the new Reichstag will have about 475-485 members.* Of these, Centrists, German People's Party and the variously-opinioned Nationalists number about 300. All these actually favor a return to monarchial government, but most of them support the Republic. The new Reichstag is, therefore, predominantly Monarchist in sentiment, but committed to upholding the Republican regime.

*The German electoral system apportions one deputy for every 60,000 votes cast, hence the number of deputies fluctuates with each election.