Cabinet Crisis

Chancellor Wilhelm Marx was confronted with the greatest political enigma that has yet crossed the threshold of his career.

At the time that the Experts' Plan legislation was passed by the Reichstag (TIME, June 16), support from the moderate Monarchists was obtained by promising them seats in the Cabinet. The greatest supporter of this compromise was Dr. Gustav Stresemann, Foreign Minister and leader of the Volkspartei (People's Party). He argued that the inclusion of the Monarchists was most desirable from every standpoint: First, the Government should honor its promise; and second, Monarohist Ministers in the Cabinet would be a real step toward linking the past with the present.

The Chancellor was not of the same opinion. He thought that Monarchists and Socialists should be admitted in equal numbers. In an interview, he said:

"The reason for this was an ultimatum from the People's Party --a member of the present Government coalition most friendly to the Nationalists [Monarchists]--threatening to 'reserve its liberty of action' unless other parties forming the coalition consent to the admission of Nationalists into the Government"

The position was this : The Socialists refused to join the Cabinet if the Monarchists were admitted ; the Monarchists refused to join if the Socialists were to be represented. Foreign Minister Stresemann threatened to secede from the Government coalition unless Chancellor Marx gave the Monarchists the promised seats. The Chancellor wished to admit both Monarchists and Socialists into the Cabinet. The enigma defied solution. Resignations, dissolution of the Reichstag, with consequent general elections, were hinted. Herr Wirth, onetime Chancellor, and Herr Breitscheid, a Socialist leader, were mentioned as prospective Chancellor and Foreign Minister, respectively. Only one thing remained clear: Something had to be done. Beyond that, the future declined to speak.