The Centre

The morning post brought into Berlin last week an envelope with a CzechoSlovakian postage stamp and the postmark "Marienbad." It contained a brief note from Josef Wirth, onetime (1920) Chancellor, to his party, the Centre or Catholic Party.

"True to my line of policy in the Reichstag, I have the honor to inform you that I withdraw from the Centrist party and in the future will consider myself representing the Republican and Socialist wing."

Thus the former leader severed his connection abruptly, precipitately. And what was the cause? For the past few months the Centre has been tending more and more to the Nationalist Right. In particular it supported the high tariff proposed by the Nationalists. But Herr Wirth has grown closer and closer to the Centre's former allies, the Socialists. On one occasion he remarked: "The enemy stands at the right. If it ever comes to a struggle between the bourgeoisie and the proletariat I desire to give notice that I shall be on the side of the proletariat."

He was the only member of the Centre to vote no confidence when the Luther Administration went into power.

His withdrawal means a realignment within the Centre Party. Some of his personal following will doubtless go with him leftwards. The rest of the party will probably congregate about Franz von Papen (onetime German military attache at Washington) who has been gaining influence in the conservative wing of the party.