| Show DICTATORSHIP RULES i GERMANY I 4 I Serious Trouble Looms j As Old Junker Regime II Takes Take Over Control i Hindenburg Signs Decree e I Placing Prussia Under Under- Dictatorship ship jf CABINET PLANS BATTLE V Von on Papon Suspends 1 All Alj Civil Rights ny By FREDERICK KUH United Press Staff Correspondent BERLIN July 20 The The militaristic cabinet of Franz von Pap n struck struck struck-at a athe at atthe the roots of democratic government in Germany today taking over under virtual dictatorship the vast state of ot Prussia and proclaiming a military state sate of emergency In Berlin and the nearby province of Br Brandenburg It means that the old junker regime regime regime re re- re- re gime of prewar kaiser days was firmly firmly firm firm- ly in the thead saddle ad lle riding high and the country was under what amounted to military control There was prospect of troubles in removing socialist officeholders By seizing the government of Prussia sia Von took control of the 90 0 Prussian police hitherto police hitherto under socialist management the chief armed body in Germany Germany- after the regular army which he also controls control It gave him absolute control of the ri rich h state which comprises two-thirds two of Germany ending caning states state's rights there and dispossessing the socialist government last important democratic democratic democratic demo demo- cratic regime reime in Germany HI HINDENBURG SIGNS The swift move authorized by a decree decree de JIe- de- de cree cree sig signed by President Paul Paul- von yon Hindenburg left the the Prussian Prussian socialists socialists social social- indignant and bellicose Serious trouble appeared in prospect pros pros- Von appointed federal commissioner with with supreme supreme power in Prussia ordered oto O to Braun Brun Prussian premier and ana his to abandon aH office They reus refused d to do so and Von was expected to employ force torce to remove them It was understood understood understood under under- stood regular troops would occupy the thc government offices and drive out the resisting officials including Karl Severing the strong man who controlled controlled con con- trolled the Prussian police for years ears Severing surrendered his office m under tinder tin un- der compulsion compulsion tonight The dictatorship ejected not only Severing and Premier Otto OUo Braun but bul the remaining members of or the Prussian cabinet Federal commissioners commissioners commissioners commis commis- will be appointed to occupy their posts Berlin and other Prussian cities seethed Under the state of ot emergency emer- emer rency r- r ency gency in Berlin and Brandenburg civil rights were suspended and the most drastic regulations put in force including the death penalty for lor some offenses POSTS PROCLAMATION General Gerd von of the regular army was put in charge of the military administration of Berl Berlin 1 and Brandenburg under the emer erner- gency He had this proclamation posted around the city r rI I 1 have been delegated by President von Hindenburg to exercise executive power in Berlin and the province of Brandenburg I 1 expect all authorities and the public to toj obey my my measures which are in the interests of public order and safety Anyone removing or wilfully dama damaging in this proclamation tion will be punished Von made Franz lord mayor of Essen the thc premier of Prussia and minister of Interior responsible responsible re re- re- re sPon ible to Von Pap en com corn missioner I The The Prussian Prussian government prepared I Ito to resist A United A-United Press correspondent correspond correspond- I ent eat visiting the interior ministry found various cabinet officials still Continued on P Page Pise e Two JUNKERS SEIZE SEllE PRUSSIAN RULE tt f C- Continued Irom Pace One In ln their offices telephones ringing wildly and attendants rushing around Evidence of military rule was vI vii vii- Ible In fri the center of the the government where a detachment of infantry with machine guns reinforced rein rein- forced the ordinary gu guard rd of ol the reich t A hundred d yards away on the same street the military occupied the buildings buildings build build- ings of the Prussian prime ministry preventing anyone from Irom entering or No r restrictions were placed on on civilian movements In the streets however The defiant Prussian cabinet met and decided to seek a supreme court order Border o der immediately annulling the de de- cree cree as us a violation of ol the constitution Pending a supreme court decision the them m ministry will seek an injunction to restrain Von Van from functioning Aas as commissioner T Von ordered the ousting of Albert lbert Alb rt Grezinski Berlins Berlin's socialist chief ol ot police pollee and the commander of police Colonel both bothof of ol of whom were reported determined to resist until relieved forcibly Other high police pollee officials came under the theban theban theban ban ban and it was reported minor off off- daIs would be allowed to remain only i if they pledged loyalty to the new commissioner Developments Iz Ip 11 Berlin Berlin- were pro- pro ested by the Bavarian government at Provisions of ol the decree proclaim proclaim- ting the military state of ol emergency a are Suspension of at constitutional rights of ol citizens fre freedom dom of ol assembly press and postal s secrecy crecY and inviolability of the home t rol The death penalty Is prescribed for lor high treason arson or violation of the l law w forbidding handling of ol destruction of ol railway bridges Sand Zand and public works and leadership of faction against the state stale The death penalty i-penalty is also provided also provided for lor Inciting 7 disorder or Inviting opposition of ol the state of ol emergency or the provisions 13 ol ol the decree Ordinarily prosecutions for lor in in- ol of the decree will be left lell to b-to to the civil law Jaw courts but a special provision authorizes that the military commander may demand institution ol ot special courts The decree was signed by President von von Hindenburg Chancellor von Minister of Interior Baron von Gayl and Minister of Defense General Kurt von It contained 5 six paragraphs It vests executive power In the mini minister er of defense who may may confer such power on the mill mill- tary commander The military commander commander- assumes command of the entire police force force- In the area affected by the decree |
