Friday, 13 December 1929

Berlin:  

The capital is astir with late-night political deal-making, as President Paul von Hindenburg gets involved in the crisis involving Chancellor Hermann Mueller’s financial reforms.  Bringing together the heads of the Reichstag’s political parties for an annual state dinner, Hindenburg reportedly urges them to agree on the financial proposals.  The Mueller cabinet then holds a midnight closed-door session, details of which are not disclosed.  But afterward, leadership of the socialist and peoples parties have reportedly come around to agree to vote for Mueller’s proposals. 

Madrid:  

Gen. Miguel Primo de Rivera, dictator of Spain for the past six years, announces that some form of constitutional government will be reinstated in Spain next year.  Whether this will involve his resignation, or just some reduction in his powers, is unclear, but a change has been rumored for months, as his economic programs have become increasingly unpopular, especially with the military, which has supported his rule.  Rivera’s resignation is expected to unleash a wave of competition over what kind of government will follow – mainly between monarchists and republicans.

Elsewhere: 

Prague:  27 communist delegates are thrown out of parliament and banned from several future sessions after they repeatedly disrupt proceedings with sirens, shouting and whistles, and refuse calls for order.  Fist fights break out before police haul off the disorderly delegates. 

Austria:  Bad economic news: unemployment jumps 33% in one month.

Ostend, Belgium:  In one respect, at least, it promises to be a Merry Christmas for Great Britain.  The last of her troops to leave the Rhineland, after 11 years of occupation, embark here for Dover, England, and home. 

China:  The tide turns in the civil war.  Rebel forces scatter on multiple fronts as nationalist government head Chiang Kai-shek suppresses the rebellion and restores his hold on the government.  In Canton alone, 3,000 rebel soldiers are dead and 2,000 captured.  The river there is said to be choked with corpses.