Evening star., 1913-12-04
Parliament Votes Non-Confi-
dence in Government Owing
to Zabern Incident.
IMPERIAL CHANCELLOR
MAY BE FORCED OUT
Kaiser Decides to Take Hand and
Summons High Officials
to Explain.

BERLIN, December 4--The strife be-
tween the military authorities and the
civilians In the little garrison town of
Zabern. Alsace. brought about over
night a political crisis of the most
acute order in Germany.
4 vote of confidence i'm the gov
ernment in connection with its attitude
in regard to the Zabern troubles was
adopted in the imperial parliament to-
day by 2e3 against 81. One blank
paper was handed In, while forty nine
members were not present
Demands for the resignation of the
imperial chancellor were voiced today
by the Tagehlatt. the Frankfort
Gazette and other radical newspapers
Emperor William decided to say that
the time had come for him to interfere
personally with the full weight of his
authority in order to put end to the
differences between the civil and mill
tary authorities of Alsace. His majesty
this morning summoned the governor
general of Alsace- Lorraine. Count
Charles Won Wedel, and the command
ing general, Lieut. Gen. Eerthold Won
Defmling. to report to him Immediately
at DonaueSchingen
Chancellor to Report.
The imperial chancellor leaves the
capital tonight to make a personal re-
port on the Zabern incidents to the
emperor.
The unsatisfying nature of DR. Won
Bethmann-Hollweg's explanations yes
terday in the imperial parliament and
the bruSque statement Of Maj. Gen.
Erich Won Falkenhayn, minister of war.
it is pointed out, not only insured the
nf the raSnlnfiae1 ~eynYpSSinQ
non-confidence in the government. but
! nave made possible a serious hitch in
the budget program.
| 1t is not unlikely that the imperial
parliament will refuse to proceed with
| the discussion of the budget until IL
receives satisfactory guarantees that
there Will be no repetition of such in
cidents those which have occurred
at Zabern.
Now Much Exercised.
| The imperial chancellor, aware that
| even his soMps sppporters are blaming
him for the absence of any definite
declaration as to how he is going TO
deal with the authors of the incidents.
appeared in the imperial parliament at
the opening of today's session. He was
evidently much exercised over the stu
a.ion.
Taking the floor at once he declared
treme displeasure over the occurrences
at Zabern and had given the general in
command strict orders that such viola
tions of the law as the clearing of the
streets by the military and the arrest
of civilians should not be repeated.
Denies Secret Government.
DIR. Won -Hollweg denied the
existence of secret inner government
in Alsace which oyerruled the deciSions
of the recognized authorites-as had
been reported-and said he would resign
instantly if such thing were true.
The present moment is a serious
)ne," the chancellor said. mot because
of the possibility of my resignation. but
because of the danger that the Zabern
incidents and the debates in the imperial
parliament may lead to permanent
breach between the army and the people
The imperial chancellor and the emperor
are in thorough accord in the belief that
ii policy must be adopted which will
heal this strife.
The imperial chancellor appeared to be
thoroughly angry and snapped out his
phrases i'm a sharp voice, showing evil
dent signs of nervousness.
Since the emperor gave orders to avoid
any further conflicts there has been no
disorder at Zabern. The civilian inhabi-
tants, however. show resentment al the
recent incidents and propose to withdraw
the appropriation of S2.nDo3 which they
voted this summer for the construction
of new barracks and drill grounds.