Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-12-17
Political Shake-U
in Several Nations

the European
Political Shake-Ups struggle. til c
in Several Nations. po, a 10 , sha ne
rious belligerent nations have been of
great importance and have a vital
bearing on the future conduct of the
war England. France and Russia, not
to speak of Rumania. have seen the re-
trement of their war minister's and
the seating of new ones. The Teutonic
nations have not been entirely exempt
from political changes. for the reason
that during the week the Austrian
ministry stepped down and Emperor
Charles selected Alexander Spitzmu"l-
Ter TO organize "a new cabinet. one
more in sympathy with the combined
interests of Austria and Hungary.
Premier Lloyd George of England
formally took the reins Of government
and at once made 1t evident by his ac-
tions and statements that the one pre-
dominant purpose of Great Britain
would be to instiI action all along the
l1ne that the war may be pressed to a
victorious conclusion. The selection
OF war council of five members, to
have supreme dictation over the ma
tons military well as naval en-
deavor. was the one move which
brought greatest pleasure and conf
been the belief Of peoples in all walks
that as long the affairs in this war
were conducted by many men instead
OF a restricted. responsible few, the
greatest results could not be achieved.
Premier Lloyd George, being i'll was
prevented from making a formal state
ment to the house of commons in re-
gard to his aims and purposes but
during the course of the present week
he by word and action is expected to
make reply to the German peace ten
ders
France. too. has been the victim of a
cabinet crisis. and though Premier
BRAND has selected new ministry
and practically reVamped all the va
rious departments Of the government
there remains anything but a eener-
ally firm opinion that the present gov
eminent is conducting the war on the
proper basis and with the expedition
necessary, even though the government
won vote of confidence in the cham
Der of deputies. Premier BRAND fol-
lowing the lead of Lloyd George of
England. has selected u war council,
which viii govern Frances future en-
deaNor Many economic as well as
military reforms already haze been eff
fected. and it is confidently expected
that " hen the shakeup is completed
France will &c about the business of
making war against the common enemy
with greater expedition and more fixed
purpose. There seems to prevail
that France and her allies have per-
mitted the war to drag out too long.
and the opinion that the allies should
have accomplished more than they have
is more frequently voiced in Paris than
in any other of the entente capitals.
Premier BRAND. though weathering
the storm just closed. probably Will
face further political typhoons unless
the demands of the people for greater
and more effective action are met
The situation in Russia has been one
which has given the other allied ma
lions som e
Russ Situation concern and
Has Caused Concern. has sst
precedent in the history of Russia.
For the first time since the present
system of government went into effect
the imperial council, feeling. as does
the duma. that the present Russian
government Is too much under the in
fiuence of those pro-German interests
which dominated to great extent
Russia's politics before the present
war. has protested. 1t accordingly has
Joined the duma in demands that a new
ministry-one that can work in COM
plete harmony with the legislative
bodies-be appointed. Any such selec-