The Detroit times., 1908-11-11
his official acts.

his official acts.
The kaiser was given a sound verbal
drubbing yesterday. during the debate
in the reichstag, over the interpella-
ttions concerning the conversations
published with the permission OF the
emperor In the London Daily Tele-
graph, on Oct. %.
The criticism of his majesty's court,
his ministers and his ma1esty's treat
ment of the constitution, as well as OF
his freedom of speech, went to lengths
that astonished observers acquainted
with the traditional caution OF the
chamber in dealing with the personal
ity of the sovereign. And the en-
peror seemed to have no defenders.
Won Bulow Excuses.
Chancellor Won Buelow made an att
dress lasting Is minutes. but he lacked
his usual spirit, and a person high in
his confidence Is authority for the
statement that he also had told the
emperor that neither himself nor his
successors could remain In Office un.
less his majesty was more reserved.
Prince Won Buelow spoke solemnly and
without making use OF any dramatic
effects.
Icy Silence Reigns.
The house received his explanation
in Icy silence instead of giving It that
cordial applause which, as a general
thing, follows the chancellor's fine par
|liamentary declarations.
The conservatives, representing
largely the landed nobility, were
almost as relentless as the socialists
the radicals and the nationatliberals
and the proceedings are regarded by
the xvtreme liberals as the beginning
of a long contest between the crown
and parliament that may end in Ger
many having a ministry responsible to
parliament and not to the crown alone.
When Herr Bassermann. the ma.
tional-liberal leader. a friend OF Chan
cellor Won Buelow, and a specialist III
foreign affairs, began discussion of
the incident, there was hardly vacant
seat on the members benches, while
the galleries were brilliant with the
uniforms OF officers and the costumes
Of women. In the royal box were
Prince Christian Of Schleswig-H ol.
stein; Duke Ernest Guenther, a
brother of the empress; Gen. Jacoby,
the imperial adjutant, and Gen. Won
Moltke, chief OF the general staff,
while on the raised platforms. facing
the chamber, sat the members OF the
bundesrath, including the resident en-
voys of all the German federated
states. Some 30 foreign newspaper
were in the press
tribune.
Tells Kaiser to Take Care.
The interpretations regarding this
interview which has been character.
ICED as highly indiscreet, were taken
up at once. Herr Bassermann, Ma
tional-Liberal, opened the debate. The
personal elements in foreign politics
was dangerous, he declared, and the
higher man stood, the greater care
he should take OF his utterances. Re
sponsible officials should examine his
remarks. The ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS did
not desire the resignation of Chan.
cellor Won Buelow. but they did want
the elimination of the personal ele-
ment from the conduct of foreign af
fairs. as its continuance was bound to
bring failure.
There ought to be an end TO I'M
perial personal politics and interior
ence with the responsibilities OF the
chancellir such as had been manifest
ed recently In the Tower-Hill and the
Tweedmouth aaffirs. Practically the
entire German people was of one
mind concerning the ruinous effects of
direct imperial interference In the
foreign affairs of the empire Local
monarchists could only regret that
damage had been done the monarch.al
principle, especially at time when a
strong Republican party had grown
up. This sentiment was greeted with
applause from the Socialists.
Strikes Hard at Wilhelm.
The publication of this imperial
declaration is not the wost feature
OF the incident Herr Bassermann
said. This is the fact that these opin-
ions sro held and passed from mouth
to mouth. No one knows how many
similar conversations with foreign
ers repose among the archives OF 9TH
err governments. They all are In
contravention of article seventeen OF
the constitution, which provides that
imperial acts In foreign affairs must
be countersigned by the chancellor.
In conclusion Herr Bassermann
demand the resignation of Chancel.
lor Won Buelow, but they did Insist
the chancellor would guard his con.
stitutional prerogatives and resist
unconstitutional interference from the
emperor.
The house adjourned to meet to-
day and when the chancellor depart
ed the crowds outside the doors cheer
Ats..