Herr von Papen's Problems
The von Papen Cabinet is not finding its tusk a sinecure. As was pointed out here when Dr. Bruning fell, his successors were much more likely to be endangered by the perils of the internal situation, particularly the financial situation, than by any inter- national complications. And so it is turning out. Emergency decrees issued on Tuesday impose heavy cuts on the allowances of war widows and war orphans, and reductions in the ordinary unemployment dole are expected to save the Government £21,000,000 a year. All the ingredients of social unrest are in that decision, particularly since Labour might have taken front Dr. Bruning what it would not take from von Papen. At the same time States like Bavaria and Wurtemberg are up in arms at the recognition of the Nazi Brown Shirts by the Government, with the result that relations between the States and the Reich are becoming openly and dangerously strained. The Nazi irregulars can be counted on to be increasingly in evidence as next month's election approaches. The political situation in Germany is growing progressively worse, but there would be no gain to anyone in the fall of Herr von Papen before the election. The presence at Lausanne of German delegates who can accept responsibility and take decisions is essential.
