Exploitation of murder of Dr. Rathenau by political parties in Cologne

15 119 COBLENZ. INTER-ALLIED RHINELAND HIGH COMMISSION, BRITISH DEPARTMENT. 8th July, 1922. JUL 10 1922 No. My Lord, The efforts made by the Socialists, Democrats, and Centre Parties in Cologne to exploit the murder of Dr.Rathenau for their respective political ends have somewhat abated and it becomes possible to calculate losses and gains. On this occasion the Social Democrats have succeeded in taking the lead from the Independent Socialists and Communists. But they are not satisfied: the Party hoped to force Dr. Wirth to a dissolution of the Reichstag before the national horror at the assassination had spent itself, and, by maintaining the leadership of the combined Left - which they gained by outdoing the extravagant demonstrations of the radicals in the Reichstag - to lead it to victory and the formation of a Socialist Government. For a time it looked as if the outburst of feeling would achieve the union of the Majority Socialists and the Independents. If rumour is to be believed, the jealousy between the leaders of the two parties has prevented this. 2. In Cologne, Herr Sollmann and his paper, the "Rheinische Zeitung", have expressed themselves with a violence which was only supportable for the first two days after the shock of the murder. The effect of their language now is the reverse of what is intended. The The Right Honourable The Earl of Balfour, K.G., etc. etc. etc.