Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1908-11-12
GERMAN Federal.
COUNCIL. MEETING
A Most Unusual Thing and it is
Causing Much specu-
lation in Berlin.

Berlin Nov. l2,The meeting called
today &c the foreign affairs committee
Of the bundesrath, or federal council, Is
attracting much speculation. The cir
culnstances preceding the assembling
at this committee. a most unusual stem.
have given rise 10 the reference thut
the meeting IS called to take some ac-
ton With The idea of preventing Err
peror William from pursuing an indie
pendent course in the foreign affairs
OF the empire, as we'll as from publicity
indicating personal policy differing
from that Of his government. The min
listers, president of the Bavai'ian Wur-
temberg, and Saxon delegations to the
.council-the bundesrath represents the
individual STATES of the empire; the
l"ichstas represents the German nation
arrived in Berlin for the committee
meeting few days ago.
The assembling OF the committee has
come to be an almost forgotten feature
of the constitutional institutions Of the
German empire and 1t is for this reason
that 50 much speculation attaches to
the extraordinary proceeding It is un
lerstood that the meeting is called a
the instance of Bavaria, whose minister
President Baron Won Podewils, Will
therefore preside at the sittings.
According TO newspaper statements,
Luitpoid. the prince regent Of Bavaria,
Is intensely eXasperated because of Em-
peror Williams latest venture into for
eisn politics, In other words, the pulls
cation Of the London Telegraph inter-
view. an act which has resulted IN
great deal of criticism of his majesty
for the past two days in the reichstag
No official statement as to the purpose
of the meeting can be had, and . grea
secrecy is being observed regarding the
entire matter.
Dr. Theodore Barth. for many years
the Leader Of the advanced wing of tbs
Radical party in the reichstag. has
written the Associated Press. the fol-
lowing definition Of the political situa
ion today in Germany:
1.-THE debates in the reichsiag directed
against the personal government Of the
Emperor will have the effect only of
. sham fight with parliamentary blank
until it is understood that
n Prussia and Germany personal gov
does not depend upon the tenn
ierament and character Of the present
Personal government can
My be AboliSnGd DS determined au--
ance toward q system OF parliament
ny government similar to that exist
ng IN England France, italy and oth-i
ountries. No change in the consttu- |
ion or any act introducing ministerial |
esponSibility Is necessary for the at
Of this end.
'"rhe system of parliamentary gov
in England was brought about |
iitholt the alteration of n single para
iaph of the law. The king Of Eng |
md even today is empowered to act.
: is Emperor William, i'll filing Of |
posts. but the British par
ament owing to its control OF the
udget. could make the carrying out
+ his duties impossible for any min
;ter VINO enjoyed only the confidence /
( the sovereign and not thar Of thu
pusc OF commons.
.vrhe German Reichstag. constitution
lly. is in similar position. 1t need
My to resolve. and national public /
pinion must compel it to resolve, on
lch a proceeding,
"The report is that democratic iiber-
ism is to take the lead in this CON
titutional battle. and it is the duty
rate, but so long as the members Of
laf party are bound by the chains
f the bloc they cannot fulfil their
lty. AT present they have joined the
Who combat every sin
ere effort toward constitutionalism
his the Conservatives do. because, nw
IL TO their relations To the crown. they
D better under the Personal system