Repudiators

Elected three years ago and considered "extremely moderate" in comparison with most German chambers elected since is the Prussian State Diet, representing two-thirds of the Fatherland. Last week the Diet debated revision of the Young Plan, soon to be considered by a new Reparations committee (TIME, Nov. 30). Quietly a motion was put demanding that the German Government seek "revision having for its aim complete cessation of any kind of tribute payments" (Germans consider Reparations "tribute").

Decorously the motion passed with not a single dissenting vote. Ninety-two Deputies abstained, but the 184 affirmative votes were stark handwriting on the world's wall : the largest State Diet in the German Republic had overwhelmingly endorsed repudiation of Reparations.

Just elected and ultra-reactionary is the Hessian State Diet in which Fascist Adolf Hitler's violent Nazis predominate. Police secured last week what became instantly famed as the "Boxheim Document." Signed by the six leaders of the Hitler majority party in Hesse this amazing Nazi manifesto set forth what should be done in case a Communist Government should happen to seize the State of Hesse by a coup d'etat :

1) Fascist "Storm Divisions" should seize the Government by a counter coup d'etat.

2) Any citizen caught bearing arms or disobeying the orders of a "Storm Commander" should be shot without trial.

3) Private property should be "abolished provisionally," all bank deposits "immobilized in the banks" and interest payments stopped.

4) The Fascist Dictatorship should abolish wages, enroll the able-bodied citizenry (except Jews) in State labor divisions, and distribute food by a system of rationing to everyone (except Jews, who would starve).

Police refused to believe that this "Boxheim Document," unquestionably genuine, was anything less than a secret Fascist program to overthrow the German State. Acting on this assumption, they asked Federal Attorney General Dr. Werner to prosecute the Hessian Fascists for high treason. Dr. Werner refused to prosecute.

Said he: "I find that the document submitted presupposes the existence of general chaos after the overthrow of the present Government. It is not directed against any government holding office now, and hence affords no ground for a charge of high treason. Rather it sets forth as its premise that legal and constitutional government shall have been overthrown and replaced by the rule of a Commune. This illegal regime would then be replaced by one of the National Socialists who would undertake measures for the restoration of order and security."

Amid furor Leader Adolf Hitler blandly disclaimed responsibility for what his Fascists might be thinking or plotting in Hesse. The attitude of the Attorney General seemed to make it possible for them to plot, with a little ingenuity and camouflage, whatever they please anywhere in Germany without committing treason.

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