Difficult Steering

Acting upon instructions from President von Hindenburg, Chancellor Luther last week continued his efforts to smooth the way for ratification of the Locarno treaties by Germany.

He took no notice of the fact that three Nationalist Cabinet members had resigned as a protest against the pacts (TIME, Nov. 2). He "carried on" with a "rump" cabinet and drew fire from the Socialist Vorwaerts as follows: "It is naive indeed for the present Government's supporters to behave as though nothing had happened and Luther must remain the eternal Chancellor of the German Republic."

By way of driving home his views to the electorate, the Chancellor made several impassioned speeches at various centres throughout Germany. Excerpts:

"Locarno signifies for Germany her return as a great power. The Locarno Conference was not ideally complete in its labors, but it was distinctly a step in the right direction for Germany and the world. I have every confidence the concessions promised us in the Rhineland will be granted. The German people cannot afford to reject the pact. ..."

"The means to an end does not matter. Either the Reichstag will ratify the pact or the German people themselves will be called upon directly for its approval. I myself, as well as Foreign Minister Stresemann, believe the pact means peace in contradistinction to the pre-War European balance of power. . . ."

"It remains an open question how best to enable the people to express their will--whether in the Reichstag or through a direct referendum to the electorate.

"A historical task lies ahead and a duty higher than that imposed by party considerations faces us. I have faith in Germany. . ."

All this was taken as an open menace to the Nationalists, and as a threat to force a showdown before the electorate, if they succeed in scotching the Locarno treaties in the Reichstag.

The opinion of experienced political leaders, such as Herr Paul Loebe, President of the Reichstag seemed to be, "Germany must ratify the Locarno agreement." As to the actual means by which this is to be accomplished their predictions were vague. Many believe that the Nationalist Reichstag deputies will vote half for and half against the pacts, as they did in the case of the Dawes Plan, thus avoiding responsibility but allowing the measure to pass. The Socialists, unwilling to accept the responsibility which this move would thrust upon them, are threatening to vote 50-50 likewise, and have already issued a manifesto demanding that the Reichstag be dissolved and the electorate directly appealed to. For the nonce the factions have taken to vehement radio broadcasting of their views.