The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-04-28
The Emperor Himself Is Re-
sponSible for the Turn
of Events.
CHANGE OF A NATIONS POLICY
In View of the Cars Promises His
Majesty Took the Reins In
His Own Hands.


formation the Emperor himself is respons-
ible for this turn of events, and it must
be admitted he made a score in the game
of politics in view of the fact that France
is acting in concert with Germany against
the natural inclination, which is amply
shown in the comments of the French news
papers, in which dissatisfaction is ex-
pressed at the French Government in en-
tering into a combination with Germany.
The important part which the Emperor
took in bringing about this situation is
quite equal to his previous exploits on au-
tocratic lines. Up to the middle of last
week Germany's policy was non-interyen-
ton in the affairs of the far East unless
her interests were directly interested, and
an official statement at the end of the past
week was to the effect that Germany would
not interfere with the terms of peace i'm
posed.
A sudden change, however, then &C.
CURED, for as a result of the inter
change of kilograms between the
Car and Emperor William, through the
intermediary of the Russian Charge
d Affaires at Berlin, his Majesty took the
reins into his own hands and in view of
certain expressions and half-implied
promises made by the Gar directed a
change in diplomatic action in consonance
with the views of Russia.
The Chancellor, Prince Hohenlohe, was
then away from Berlin visiting his estate
at Schillingsfurth, and neither his advice
nor that of Freiherr Marshal Won Bieber-
stein, the Imperial Secretary of State
for Foreign Affairs, was sought or
given. Prince Hohenlohe in fact did
not return to Berlin until last
Wednesday and in the Hobbies of the
Riechstag on Tuesday it was rumored that
his position was shaken and Count Won
Gutenberg would probably replace him.
The Chancellor is in failing health and I'M
able to devote himself as steadily to his
functions as previously. Nevertheless, the
rumor of his resignation is erroneous, or at
any rate premature.
The people of Berlin have been i'm
mensely entertained by the duel which
has been proceeding between the Govern
ment and the Municipal Council of Berlin
on the question of the anti-revolutionary
bill. The facts are that the magistracy
of Berlin resolved to petition the
Reighstag against the bill and in
vited the Municipal Councillors to
press their adhesion to the magistrates
petition. Herr Won Koeller, the Secretary
of State for the Interior, however. stepped
in and directed the provincial President of
Branden burg to command the magistracy
to refrain from presenting the petition and
from inviting the Municipal Councillors to
join them. This was done, whereupon a
meeting of the magistracy and Municipal
Councillors was held, and it was
then resolved to convoke a great
meeting at this place of the city
magistrates and municipal councillors from
all parts of Germany on May 8. The sup
port received since then promised that the
meeting will be the occasion for an i'm
posing demonstration against the bill, the
adoption of which all liberals agree would
be a death-blow to freedom of speech in
Germany.
In the meanwhile the Municipal Council
lors, in nowise overawed at Herr Won
Koeller's action respecting the magistracy,
determined to persist in presenting their
own petitions. Herr Won Koeller then
ordered the President of Brandenburg
Province, Achenbach, to enter an obiec-
ton to the petition of the Municipal
Councillors.
Burgomaster Zello accordingly appeared
at the Thursdays sitting of the Municipal
Council and presented this objection, but
the Councillors unanimously declined to
recognize its validity and directed their
president, DR.. Langerhaus, to forward the
petition to the Reichstag Immediately.
This was done yesterday and President
Achenbach telegraphed to President Lam
gerhaus threatening him with a fine of 800
marks if he forwarded the petition.
The petition, however, had been for
warded to the Reichstag twelve hours pre-
viously and President Achenbach received
the laconic reply:
''Too late"
The Government is thus placed in sub
timely ridiculous position and the Berlin
ers, who have keen sense of humor, are
intensely amused at the whole affair.
AS can be imagined, the matter is not
viewed in the same light by the Govern
ment, and reports are current that Prince
Hohenlohe and Herr Won Koeller have
fallen out about the bill. The latter will
undoubtedly resign if the bill is rejected.
The programme of the ceremonies at
tending the opening of the Baltic and
North Sea canal are now virtually settled.
About twenty-five warships, German and
foreign, are expected to take part in the
procession through the canal.
The troubles of Turkey in connection
with the dispatch of vessel to Kiel to
take part in the ceremonies are affording
amusing reading. The Turkish Govern
ment at first declined to take part in the
naval celebration on account of the poor
state of its finances. The Emperor wrote
an autograph letter to the Sultan asking
him to send warship to Kiel.
The Sultan summoned the Minister of
Marine, Hassan Pasha, and asked him if it
was absolutely impossible to comply with
Germany's wishes. The Minister carefully
stated the formidable list on paper of the
Turkish warships and found that he had
only three frigates at his disposal which
were suitable, and these needed refitting,
which would cost great deal of time and
money.
Suddenly Hassan Pasha remembered
that the Turkish Government had ordered
large torpedo-boat from the Germania