Der Fuehrer - Hitler's Rise to Power (1944) - Heiden

THE RACE WITH CATASTROPHE 509taining the conclusions of the Disarmament Conference.' True, this wasonly a declaration of principle; the statement also stipulated that Francemust receive some guaranties of security, to compensate her and relieveher fears. For Germany the declaration represented no material gain likethe evacuation of the Rhineland in 1930, the cancellation of reparationsin 1932; wherein the equality should consist, and how soon it should berealized, was not said. But for the world that takes principles seriously,this was the most brilliant satisfaction that Germany had received since1919. The victors of Versailles had given the Reichswehr general whatthey had denied the democratic ministers of the German Republic.At home, too, Schleicher began his government with an almosteffortless success. Papen had been overthrown at once by his Reichstag;but no one dared or desired to overthrow Schleicher. The GermanNationalists expected him to provide a powerful dictatorship; the Centerhoped that he would restore parliamentarianism; the Social Democratsdid not wish to do anything that might halt the disintegration of theNational Socialists; hence none of them wanted to overthrowSchleicher. Not even the National Socialists. 'Whatever happens, noelections — we need a breathing spell!' wrote Goebbels in his diary.The Reichstag made an important decision: Papen's wage-cutting decreemust be suspended. Schleicher was delighted, and of his own accordwithdrew all Papen's other attacks on the wage laws. Then the Reichstagadjourned without demanding a program of the government, withoutany expression of confidence or no-confidence. The parliamentvoluntarily gave Schleicher a free hand. Meanwhile, with cautiouslychosen words, the leading representative of German industry declaredthat the depression was slowly vanishing; Doctor Krupp von Bohlenund Halbach, chairman of the Reich Association of German Industry,said on December 14 at a session of the leading committee of theorganization: ' . . . The world economic situation, in the money marketand above all the raw-material market, shows signs of an improvement;the low point seems definitely past.'The chaos was lifting; slowly, but at many points. Desperately Hitlertried, in secret negotiations, to save what he could. Goring again andagain had his talks with Schleicher about Prussia; no