Cabinet Crisis

The German Cabinet cross politics puzzle (TIME, Oct. 13) which has defied solution for many months, was laid aside over the Christmas holiday. The horizontal lines were forever upsetting the vertical lines and no sense could be made out of any of the words.

Chancellor Wilhelm Marx tendered his resignation to President Friedrich Ebert, who accepted it and asked the Chancellor to carry on pro tempore.

Stresemann's Failure. The President then summoned Foreign Minister Gustav Stresemann, leader of the German People's Party, bosom friend of Monarchy men. Herr Stresemann accepted the Presidential mandate to form a new Cabinet. He tried; but because Dr. Marx would not come to his aid with 68 Centrists faithful and true, the Foreign Minister gave up the task.

Marx's Failure. The President then called to him Chancellor Marx, leader of the Centre or Catholic Party, asked him to form a new ministry. Dr. Marx tried; but because Herr Stresemann would not help with his 50 men, who were firmly attached to the Monarchists, Dr. Marx told the President that he had failed to form a Cabinet.

The President, exhausted, decided to let the crisis wear itself out. Chancellor Marx and his Government are to stay in office until Jan. 5, when the Reichstag convenes.

One Proposal. Interest in the ultimate solution of the Cabinet puzzle was not lacking in Reichstag circles. Among the many proposals was the suggestion that ex-Chancellor Hermann Muller, leader of the Social Democratic Party, should form a Cabinet composed of Social Demo- crats, Centrists and members of the German People's Party. This plan, however, was thought likely to end in failure as had Chancellor Marx's identical attempt.

Another Proposal. A more practical suggestion was contained in the proposal that Dr. Gessler, Democrat and present Minister of Defense, should head a Cabinet composed of members of all the Reichstag parties.