As You Were

The second General Election of the year was held.

Issues. As it has been in the past, and as it is likely to be in the future, the overshadowing issue was whether Germany is to continue a Republic or revert to an imperial regime. The Experts' Plan played some part, but, generally speaking, only the extreme elements opposed it.

Parties. In Germany there are seven main parties and a number of "mushroom" parties of little or no significance.

Republicans include: Social Demo-cratic Party, moderate Socialists rep- resenting the working classes; the Democratic Party, liberals representing the bourgeoisie; Centre or Catholic Party.

Monarchists include: German People's Party, representing the big in- dustrial interests; Nationalist Party, representing the landowners and farmers; German Popular Party, led by General Erich von Ludendorff, who is opposed to the Experts' Plan.

Bolsheviki. The Communists are against everything, except Bolshevism, which they seek to impose by means of an armed revolution.

Results. Provisional returns showed that the extreme Parties (Bolsheviki and Ludendorffites) had been decisively defeated and that the Social Democratic Party had made equally decisive gains; otherwise, taking into consideration the increased vote, the position remained the same. Almost complete returns: Party Seats Gain Loss Social Democratic . , 130 30 0 Nationalist 114 8 0 Centre 68 3 0 Democratic 32 4 0 German Peoples' 50 6 0 Popular 14 0 IS Bavarian Peoples' 19 3 0 Communist 45 0 17 Other Parties 17 0 Totals 489 54 35 Elected. Most conspicuous of those elected was Grand Admiral Alfred von Tirpitz, conspicuous for his appearance because of his famous snow-white beard, which reaches his chest in two magnificent and cylindrical cascades; conspicuous for his intellect because, if ruthless, he proved himself a good sailor and has since had the common sense to vote for the Experts' Plan.

In the same class were elected Prince Otto von Bismarck, grandson of the Iron Chancellor, and Oskar Hergt, until recently leader of the Nationalists.

Among others were: Chancellor Marx (Centre), Foreign Minister Stresemann (German Peoples' Party), ex-Chancellors Scheidemann and Wirth (Social Democratic), General Erich von Ludendorff (Popular Party), Count zu Reventlow (Popular Party), Count von Bernstorff, ex-German Ambassador to the U. S. (Democratic), Fraeulein Ruth Fischer (Communist).

Significance. The acceptance of the Experts' Plan last summer involved amendments to the Constitution, which in turn involved the securing of a two-thirds majority. A two-thirds majority of the Reichstag was 314; the Government could command, with the Socialists, about 260. It was clear that the Monarchists had to be won over. On the promise by the Government to give them four seats (later cut to three) in the Cab- inet, about two-thirds of the Monarchists voted for the Government and the Experts' Plan legislation was enacted.

However, when the time came for carrying out its promises, the Gov- ernment met with unforeseen difficulties (TIME, Nov. 3), and was finally forced to ask for new elections.

Elections over, the Parties are in about the same position. The Gov- ernment coalition still lacks a majority. There is this difference: The Government Parties, excepting the Democrats (who declined to work with the Monarchists), can now rule with the Monarchists and thus stay in power. Failing an agreement with the latter, it would seem that the Government must resign. The situation, therefore, in its broad out- lines, is a case of "as you were."