News of the Week
THE crisis in Germany has dragged on surprisingly. One element in it is the unexpectedly vigorous refusal of all sections of the populace to have any more of Herr von Papen, though the late Chancellor seemed to the outside observer to have done about as well as was possible in all but impossible circumstances. General von Schleicher may succeed at the last moment in scraping together enough support from the different parties to ensure the " winter truce " which would enable a nominally Parliamentary Government to survive without immediate fear of an adverse vote in the Reichstag. But without the Nazis that is hardly Possible, and Herr Hitler, robbed of the Chancellorship himself, has no strong disposition to smooth someone else's path to office. In view - of the feeling against von Papen, the President's best course would seem to he to persuade von Schleicher t3 accept office in any case. He will be less unpopular than his predecessor and will have far more than the handful of Nationalists to support him, even though his backing is insufficient to justify him in risking a Reichstag .vote. On general. grounds it is usually an advantage that the power behind the thrOne should be actually placed on the throne, where he has to bear responsibility and face criticism.
