The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1911-02-23
GERMAN OFFICE
WATcHEsGDSELY
ALL COMMENTS
Articles Dealing Critically
With Domestic Rela-
tons Ccnsured.

BERLIN. Specially Drastic meth
DDS adopted by the German authorl.
ties to check or supervise foreign
comments on the domestic affairs st
the empire. and to penalize those
journalists who, while residing In Ber-
lin. criticlse the methods of the gov-
eminent or otherwise conduct them.
selves in a way OF which the police
disapproye. has lust been revealed BY
the summary expulsion OF a French
journalist, Dr.. Halbwaehs, and OF a
Russian press representative, DR..
Maximoif.
DR.. Maximoff. besides contributing
articles TO the Russian newspapers
which were regarded in Berlin as be-
Ing exceedingly unfriendly to the
German authorities. also incurred dis
favor by maintaining close personal
relations with the leading Socialist
daily Of this country. the -vorwarts,"
and also by attending various Socialist
meetings held to condemn the meth
DDS Of the Berlin police on the oc-
casion OF the recent riots In the north
west districts Of the capital.
The French journalist, Dr. Halb-
wachs, was expelled because he sent
communications to the "Humanlte,"
The Paris Socialist organ, In which he
severely criticised the behavior Of the
police during the recent riots.
Expuisions from this country are by
no means i%nfrequent, as the authors
lies car summarilyi elect any foreign
sr who according to their views may
be regarded as an undesirable alien,
and the oniy appeal against the de-
cision Of the police is to the Prussfan
ministry OF the interior, which almost
Invariably upholds the decision of Its
subordinates.
These two cases. however. happen
ing almost simultaneously. clearly
show how carefully the imperial gov
srnment is watching the critics OF its
policy, and how perfectly the political
police are organized to supervise the
foreign press representatives stationed
n Berlin.
On receiving q curt notification that
ais expulsion from the country had
been decreed. DR.. Maximoff presented
himself at the headquarters Of the po-
lice and inquired why this extreme
measure had been taken against him.
He was received with perfect cour-
tesy. and the officials described to him
infinitely how he had spent his last
six months in Berlin, detectives fol-
lowed him daily in order to collect suf-
ticient evidence OF his improper con-
duct" to warrant his expulsion.
His movements from hour to hour,
his visits to the office OF the "vor-
warts" his attendance. at Socialist
meetings and his, ~.fraternizing with
various German Socialists were all
brought up against him as proofs OF
the official contention that his conduct
a such as to Justify his designation
as an undesirable alien whose pres
ence constituted a danger to the pub
He safety.
At the outset, DR.. Maximot was CIV
en- eight days. within which time he
was required to leave the country.
Thinking that perhaps he might per-
sHade the authorities to reverse the
decree issued against him, he appealed
10 the Berlin President Of Police, Herr
yon Jagow. 10 suspend the order OF
expulsion. a week later, DR.. Maxi
mof received a communication from
Herr Won Jagow saying that the police
had no been shaken In their convIc-
lion that he was al undesirable allen
and informing him that his expulsion
would have to be carried out accord.
Ing to the original decree.
U%ndaunted by this disappointment,
DIR. Maxlnof made an appeal to the
Imperial Chancellor, setting forth the
reason why he regarded the action OF
the police as unjust. This time the
action came more quickly and in a DIFF
fcrent way.
The morning after he had forwarded
the appeal to the Chancellor, two de-
tectives came to tell him that he must
leave the country within twenty-four
hours. ard that they would supervise
his movements until they had con-
WINGED themselves that he had crossed
the frontier into foreign territoy.
DR.. Maxlmofr utilized his last day
by visiting many Of his friends in Der.
lin. and by lodging about from point
so as to cause considerable annoyance
and Inconvenience to the detectives
watching his movements.
Wherever he went he was followed,
and when. abandoning his usual pro.
his two %pursuerset MISUNDERSTANDING
Roaaced infdelIty, he went to church,
building until he appeared again. Fin
ally, the detectives entered the same
compartment of the train In which he
left Berlin and Travelled with him as
far MS the first station yer the from
tier.
The expulsion OF Russians who are
believed to be In sympathy with the
Socialist or Revolutionary movement
-.