Paris Peace Conf. 184.01402/8
Dr. E. E. Field to the Commission to Negotiate Peace
H. H. Field Report No. 9
Munich, February 22, 1919.
Subject: Political situation.
- 1.
- The most practical division of the parties in Bavaria is 1) a moderate governmental group, 2) opposition on the right, 3) opposition on the left. The ministerial group Auer–Timm, Rosshaupter [Page 32] and Frauendorfer forms at present the kernel of the moderates. These include the Majority Socialists, the Democrats, and the left section of the Bavarian Popular Party; they are supported without enthusiasm by many persons voting for the German Popular Party. The opposition on the right comprises the bulk of the German Popular Party and a large section of the Bavarian Popular Party (clericals). The opposition on the left comprises the Spartacists and, with the elimination of Eisner from the Government, the independents. Eisner has largely won the Peasant Party and it would probably follow him into the opposition.
- 2.
- The Central Council of Workmen and Soldiers was long in opposition to the meeting of the Landtag and held its sessions in the Landtag building. It consented to retire before opening of Landtag. Eisner wished to continue the Council as a political body, a government within the government; Auer was willing to keep the Council, but insisted on assigning to it a purely consultative role, similar at best to that of a Trades-Union.
- 3.
- Auer told me the day before the attack of his intentions. He was willing to retire before a bourgeois ministry and to support the same if it kept in liberal democratic channels or he was ready to join a majority socialist government and act on a program which would win liberal bourgeois support. He felt he was not sufficiently cultured to take the first post in the government and told his colleague Timm not to consider him a candidate. He was carried, however, unanimously by party caucus.
- 4.
- The attack on Eisner was made by a 20 year old student of an old aristocratic Bavarian family. It formed no part of a Royalist corn-plot; but was the result of a personal conviction that Eisner must be removed to save the country. Particularly at the time when the murder was committed it was a folly and promises to be a curse to the land. Auer was assaulted by left extremists and today shares none of the sympathy of the masses which flows to martyred Eisner. On the contrary, there is fear lest Auer be dragged from the hospital and lynched.
- 5.
- The first consequences of the events lead to a strengthening of the Spartacists. The question is whether it will be possible to find a leader who will have energy enough to stem the tide. At present the energetic majority socialist minister of war Rosshaupter is under arrest. I can learn nothing of the Justice-Minister Timm who is also a supporter of Auer. For the moment almost any development may set in. The surgeons hope to save Auer. They have removed the bullet from the mediastinum, they do not dare let the favorable prognosis be known, lest the patient should be lynched. Auer insisted this morning that I be sent for. I went to the hospital; but the surgeon [Page 33] preferred to serve as go between. Auer has drawn up his political testament, which has so impressed Prof. Sauerbruch, who is known as a furious nationalist, that the latter declares to me he accepts him as the man to save the country.
- 6.
- I have very few practical results as yet, but am opening channels, which promise to yield valuable information later.
Herbert Haviland
Field