Word: reichstager
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...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...
...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...
Germany. The Monarchists in the Reichstag followed a policy of obstruction to the passage of the legislation necessary to the operation of the Experts' Plan and involving its official approval by Germany. Except for the extreme members of the party, it was clear that many Monarchy men were only holding out for better terms, such as a definite determination of Germany's capacity to pay the total of reparations, earlier evacuation of the Ruhr, etc. Also, it seemed not unlikely that much of their opposition was due to the promptings of the powerful industrialists...
After several days of tangled and futile discussions, the Reichstag met to take a final vote. The galleries of the chamber were crowded to their maximum capacity with diplomats, distinguished visitors and breathless journalists. On the floor of the chamber, 441 Reichstag members assembled. A two-thirds majority, or 294 votes, was needed to enact certain parts of the Experts' Plan legislation?the mortgaging of the Reich railways to the Allies, for example. Failure to obtain the required majority would have meant dissolution of the Reichstag and a general election...
...minute after minute joined the legions of the past, excitement grew higher and higher. At last the time came for announcing the result of the ballot. Baron Wallraf, President of the Reichstag, rose from his seat. There was dead silence, presaging a mighty storm. Would it be a storm of applause or a storm of indignation? Said the President...