The Sunday telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1914-1927, 1916-02-13
INDEPENDENCE
OF LUXEMBERG
IS CONSIDERED
Question of Sending Diplomatic
Representatives to Neutral
Countries is Up.

THE HAGUE, Netherlands, Feb.
LIT is reported that the question
of sending diplomatic representatives
from Lu1emburg to the neutral coun-
tries, including America, as we'll as
to the Vatican, ID under considera-
ton with a view to protecting the
interests of that little state. The
country has been under the yoke Of
German military domination since
the beginning Of the war, when the
Germans made their rush through
Luxemburg into France and although
no immediate relief from the con-
dition which now handicap the states
independence is possible, political
leaders are all inspired with the de-
termination that Luxembourg shall be
maintained as an independent and
neutral state after the war.
Recent reports of the confusion
that prevails in the government Of
uxemburg have attracted consider
able attention among the Dutch peo-
pie, for It was only in 1890 that the
severance of that state from the
Netherlands was accomplished. 1t
was only when King William III, of
Orange died without male issue that
the Nassau branch Of the family OBJ
tanned rule there, its present repre-
sentative being the twenty-two-year
old Grand Duchess Marie-Adelaide.
She it was who strongly protested,
but vainly, against the German oc-
cupation in August, 1914, and who
has in the latest political crisis at
least shown thai she has will and
personality Of her own.
The grand duchy is necessarily suf-
fering under the same economic pres
sure that Is the experience Of Ger
many, and is less prepared to meet
it. Consequently it has been the
food question around which the poll
teal drama Of the last few months
has been turning. Ministries have
succeeded ministries with great rapid
ity, the government being in con-
tinual conflict with the Bloc parties
Of the left, who charged the minis
try headed by DR.. Loutsch with hav-
ing violated the political freedom of
the country. The Loutsch cabinet
protested the desire to direct affairs
in a business way, without reference
to party differences, but the Liberal
and Socialist leaders made it clear
that their majority would nercely OPP
pose DR.. Loutsch-(the latter's re-
signatlon has just ueen forced ac-
cording to cable advices)-and de-
mand that the will of the people land
not that Of the grand duchess, should
be the supreme law of the land"
Tumults repeatedly occurred, the
Parties Of the Left accusing the cabi-
net of having misinformed the grand
duchess concerning the views Of the
majority. On one occasion things
went SO far that q Liberal deputy
named Miller rushed at Minister
Loutsch and boxed his ears for what
he regarded as personal insult other
deputies having to separate the COM
batants. The direct result Of this in
cident was the dissolution OF the
chamber, but this achieved nothing,
for at the elections the party Of the
Right only secured twenty-five seats,
twenty-seyen going to the Bloc par
ties (Liberals, Socialists and indie
pendents). The opening OF the new
chamber followed a few days ago,
when the government declared that
1t would maintain It's former pro-
gram, with the result that hostile
motion was passed by twenty-six to
twenty-five votes. Before the ses-
sion opened two deputies OF the Bloc
threw the government seats out Of
the window,
These Internal quarrels are re-
garded here as very deplorable in
view particularly of the most pre-
carious and dangerous positnn in
which Luxembourg stands. The food
question Is what so sharply divides
both parliament and the people, the
country electors having sent repre-
sentatives to parliament who are
against the seizure of grain and the
fixing of maximum prices; but outside
observers think there should be suffi-
cient patriotism and common sense to
reach an agreement on such mat
ter.
At the elections all deputies ener-,
getically repudiated any suspicion Of
being pro-German, all are said to
fear annexation, and all are inspir-
ed by the thought OF an independent,
Luxembourg being maintained
after the war.