The times., 1897-03-21
The Kaiser Threatens to Set Min
istry and Reichstag Adrift.
IT WOULD DO HIM NO GOOD
Preparing for the Celebration Of
Kaiser Wtlliam's Centenary-The
Report That the Emperor Ignored
Ambassador Uh1 Does Not Appear
to Have Any Foundation.

mands for extra naval credits for the
number OF torpedo boats has been a GER
tairty since the declaration by DT. Lieber,
the leader of the Centrtst party, in the
Chamber ON Thursday. that the center
would adhere to the decision of tie budget
committee In opposition to the demands,
the debate on the question Of tie credits
which began on Thursday and eliminated
in today's votes have been followed with
intense interest. The chamber was packed
with deputies, showing the largest attend
ance of the session, and the diplomatic and
other galleries We're crowded with specta-
tors.
Prince Henry of Prussia brother OF the
emperor and vice admiral commanding the
second division of the German fleet at
Kiel, sat in the royal box. He Wore the
fun uniform of a naval officer of his rank
and more than usual attention was di-
rested to him by the suggestion that his
presence under the circumstances might
be designed to influence the decision of the
house in favor of the demands, at least, in
a greater measure than they were finally
conceded, for rince Henry is very popular,
and deservediy SO. Among the other dis
tinguished personages present were Ad-
Infral knorr, comma rltiprifi- Chi ef of the
German navy. and Baron Senden Eibrau.
the chief of the emperors naval cabinet,
each with q suite of officers in fHIl uni
form, and several cabinet ministers.
The discussion throughout the debate
on the credits was OF very lively charac
ter, the ministerial and opposi tim speakers
alike displaying their best oratoricai quail
ties.
DR. Won Benuingsen, the old-tiIue Ma
tional Liberal leader, who has been very
seldom heard since he became SO ad-
vanced in age, showed much of the fire
of former days in his delivery of an elo-
quent and rigorous appeal to the house
to support the grants. The attack made
upon the military and naval policy OF the
government by Herr Won Yollmar, the
Socialist orator, and the speech Of Herr
Richter. the Radical header in opposition
to the credits, were splendid forensic er-
forts and the response of Freiherr Mar
scflaIl yon Bieberstein, minister Of foreign
affairs, in support of the demands, was
a skiilfui presentation of the necessity for
the credits which heightened his already
exalted reputation as parliamentary
pleader
After the votes on the credits, which
resulted in sustaining the decision OF the
budget coulrnittee, to refuse the grant
for building two new cruisers and a mum
Der OF torpedo boats. and to grant credit
for the construction OF one new iron-cIad,
there were rulnoTs in the lobby which
took definite form of a ministerial crisis
These rnlors had 1t that the Kaiser had
determined not only to transform the
ministry with some new blood in it, but
to dissolve the Reichstag. but how much
truth there is IN the reports cannot now
be learned.
The Tossische Zeitung, in It's issue 4 last
evening, referred to story which is now
current that the emperor had Informed
Baron Won Stumm, who n turn had com
rnunicated it - the party leaders, that if
the vote of the ReichstaG upon the naval
credits was hostile TO the government he
would send both the ministers and the
Reicistag adrift. In the ministerial cir
eles, however, it is held that an Immediate
change of the ministry or appeal 10 the
country i S equally improbable As mat
ter of fact, there S no good reason given
upon any side for ove-turning the govern
fnent, every member of which has supported
the emperor i n his naval policy.
In regard TO the dissolution OF the Reich
stag and an appeal to the country. the
old argument comes in that at the present
tuncture the country is certain to return
a Reichstag q great deal more hostile
10 an increase OF the strength Of the
navy than the existing body. Whatever
Developments may he pending, however,
the emperor VIII not be likely to act
hastily The result of the vote on the
credits is not surprise to him. and for
many reasons, internal and external, he
will take time to consider before taking
any action.
The celebrations upon the question Of
the centenary OF Kaiser William l, which
Will begin on Monday, March %, dis
tract the attention of the public from the
political situation. The Berlin fetes, in
connection with the centennial celebra-
ton. began on Thursday last, with q con-
cert organized by the merchants OF the
CITY, at which the Emperor was present.
Last evening. DdHuueb WAS given DS Juc
leading representatives of trade and in
dustrv and q Kommers was given by the
members of the Academy of Arts, the
Royal School OF Arts, and the High School
of Music Today the exhibition of the
Kaiser William souvenirs was opened, from
which a procession of carriages, containing
representatives Of the university and the
technical schools went TO the mausoleum
of the old Kaiser in the Park of the Char
lottenburg SchloSs, where the tomb was
covered with wreaths. The imperial
family will 90 to the mausoleum on Mon
dav. and afterward the Kaiser William
monumeEt will be unveiled Hosts of
visitors from the country are beginning
to arrive, and,eyerytbing presages grand
celebration of the old Emperor's hundredth
birthday.ifs.v
A story, is published in some Of the Rer-
lin newspapers that the emperor ignored
United states Ambassador Uhl upon the
occa sion ef the last ball at the Royal Opera
House, and that he also neglected to speak
to Mrs Uhlsl The origin of tie story is
not known btl: the statement has not even
n suspicion of truth. The fact is that the
emperor waraly shook Mr. Uhl BY IL hand
and held a1pleasant cony ersation with him,
and also naid- his compliments to MIS-. Uh
in the ambassadors hox, chatting pleas
antIv with her and tie other ladies OF MI.
UhPs party.
,-y AWAIT T,yyrynJ-re nI?l3 ATE