On Thursday the remaining 33 elections took place, and confirmed
the position left by the earlier results. The most striking individual contest was that at Potsdam, where the Socialists captured the seat from the Free Conservatives for the first time in history. The Conservative-Centre Bloc (or " Blue-Black" Bloc) finally stands at 197, and the total strength of the Socialists, Radicals, and Liberals at 200. The Socialists alone have 110. The Centre Party has been considerably weakened. The" Blue-Black" Bloc, through which the Govern- ment governed during the last session, is dead as an institution, for if it can withstand the Socialists and Radicals it will be at the mercy of the smaller groups and the chance revolts of its own members. Although Germany does not enjoy parlia- mentary rule, a certain formal parliamentary support of the Government is required, and it does not seem to us that the present constitution of the Reichstag is one that the Govern- ment will like to see in existence very long. The danger for Europe will be the invention of " national " causes as a means of detaching sympathy from the Socialists.
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