The President's Week

P: Before the Reichstag went Generalfeldmarschall Paul von Hindenburg, President-elect of Germany, dressed in frock coat, black satin tie, patent leather shoes-a civilian, but one who looked a soldier from toes to hair. His entrance was greeted by shouts from the Communists, but the old soldier seemed not to be aware of their existence. He then subscribed to the oath of office:

"In the name of the Almighty, All-Knowing God, I swear to devote all my energies to the welfare of the German people; to increase their prosperity, to protect them from injury, to preserve the Constitution and laws of the Commonwealth, to perform my duties conscientiously and to deal justly with all." To this he added So wahr mir Gott helfe (So help me God), thus setting a precedent for other (if any) Presidents.

P:To the German people, the President issued a manifesto:

"True to the oath, I will devote all my energies to guarding the Constitution and laws. ..."

P: For the armed forces of the Republic, which he called the Wehrmacht (defence force), he had also a message:

"The German people have placed me at the head of the Reich. According to the Constitution, I take over this day the chief command of the Wehrmacht. I greet the Army and Navy with pride."

P: Dr. Stieler, representing Director General Dr. Oeser of the German Railway system, called upon the President. He was gloomy about the success of the Experts' Plan, held out little hope of the railways being able to shoulder their immense burdens. President Hindenburg replied that he knew of the grave difficulties confronting the railways and expressed his confidence that they would all be overcome.

P: To offer their congratulations on behalf of the remnant of the Army and Navy came General von Seeckt and Admiral Zenker. To them the President said:

"Melancholy and pride fill my old soldier's heart when I greet you gentlemen, who represent Germany's Army of today. . . .

"You may look to me with proud satisfaction. Germany's little Army stands today unimpaired by partisan conflicts and political opinions. That little Army is held up by a sense of duty toward the great traditions of our old national Army. ..."

P:At the Presidential Palace on the Wilhelmstrasse, the President held a diplomatic levee. Mgr. Pacelli, the Papal Nuncio and Dean of the corps diplomatique, began: ''Monsieur le President," and went on in French to extend the Corps' welcome, voicing a hope that the President would guide Germany to prosperity and along the paths of peace. The President began: "Exzellenz," and in Echt Deutsch continued : "I shall exert all of my powers to contribute with earnestness conscientiousness and complete devotion to the solution of the problems of our day and generation. ..."

Presentations followed.

P:The President signified his intention of being present at the Duesseldorf festival on June 19, in connection with the celebration of the 1,000th anniversary of Henry the Fowler's victory over the Franks which gave the Rhineland to Germany.

Duesseldorf is occupied by the French. President Hindenburg's name stands high on the Allied list of War criminals. Recently, General Nathusius, also a War criminal, stepped on to French territory to visit the grave of his son, was immediately arrested, tried, imprisoned. These three facts were in 'the minds of many Germans last week and it was wondered if the French would seize the President when he arrives at Duesseldorf. The French intimated that they would follow a more politic course.