President Hindenburg Decides Germany has a singular gift for surmounting
her crises at the last moment, and it looks as though President Hindenburg's consent to stand for re-election has saved her from another. There will probably be at least three rival candidates in the field, a Hitlerite, Herr Hugenberg or one of his followers, and a Communist, whose chances are negligible. If the Nationalists and the National Socialists were able to agree on a joint candidate his opposition to the present President might be formidable, but there seems little prospect of that. As things are President Hindenburg seems certain of election on the second vote if he fails on the first, which is unlikely. His conduct in the last few weeks has further added to his already great reputation as a servant of his country, for he has steadfastly refused to involve himself in party politics by throwing over the Chancellor, Dr. Bruning, as price of the support of the Right. A continuance of the Hindenburg-Bruning combination offers the best hope for Germany, and it seems to be assured for the moment. But the Chancellor's political
position is precarious, and the President is 84.
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