Evening star., 1916-12-14

Germany sends us certain words which
1 am not unable to explain. You have
read the address delivered by ven
-Hollweg, the chancellor of
the German empire. have not the
text and therefore I cannot give an Of
fetal opinion, but it is improbable that
in the present circumstances those who
are asked to intervene will accept a
task which might well disturb con-
fidence here What comes from yonder
made at time when Belgium is IN
vaded Serbia is invaded. ten depart
ments of France are invaded
Deputy Andre Lefevre here inter-
rupted, saying: And crimes unpun-
ished" Premier BRAND resumed:
TT is a redoubtable moment and
cannot call your attention too much to
the facts. What do we see in this ad-
dress? 1t is the same cry to deceive
neutrals or the clairvoyance of the Ger
man people-it was not We VINO de-
sired this horrible war. 1t was i'm
posed Oh us
Now, coming to the bottom of
things, ] have the right to denounce
this maneuver, this gross trap. We
want it is said by our enemies. to give
our people all the means to prosper
that they can desire. Others are t.ed
a. aims a consent not to annlhllate
them. After the Marine. after Nerdun.
France, France resisting firmly, is Of
thoroughly meditated upon to see
toward what objects it tends"
There was loud applause at these
words and Deputy Thierry-Cases shout
ed: The country thinks as you 90.
Premier BRAND then concluded:
From this r6Strum ] must say mat
there is a maneuver to separate the
allies. disturb the conscience ana ne
moralize the people of the French re-
public. In circumstances such as these
moi do aS than
ton
Press Voices Disappointment.
The disappointment shown by the
press over the new administration is
emphasized in the comment on yester-
days sitting of the chamber of deputies.
Even Premier BRANDS sensational an
nouncement of his intention to prohibit
by decree the sale of spirituous liquor
passes almost unnoticed The steady
supporters of the premier. such as the
Figaro, are but lukewarm in their ap-
oreciation. Alfred Capus, editor of the
Figaro, writes:
premier BRAND faced his adversaries
with rare authority on the question of
the German peace proposal which
dominates the hour, his sincerity and
eIouuence wrung from the assembly
unanimous applause. Neither is it pos
sible to contest the value of the pro-
posed reforms-especially that concern
ing alcohol-which the government has
engaged to carry out in the shortest
possible time We do not believe in his
will and energy say the opponents of
BRAND. It Is for him to answer them
tomorrow by acts and decisions and by
prompt and irresistible vigor to show
that he is truly master of the situation.
With a large minority parliamentary
existence is certainly difficult, but moth
ing is easy nowadays. The task of gov
erning in this tempest and amid these
obstacles is worthy of the premier.
Make of an obstacle medium even of
thy action proclaimed the wisdom of
the ancents. This should be the de
vice of every Frenchman today. par
ticularly who lead in the nations coun-
cil
In the senate today the new ministry
viii have to face another onslaught.
This time Georges Clemenceau, who
lharaCteri1es the new government as
an attempt to mend broken-down en-
gne by putting on d new pair of ties
Henri Berenger and Adrien Gaudin de
Villaine and others intend to interpret
late the government on the general
situation. If Premier BRAND accepts
the debate the senate will go into secret
sitting, for which all preparations have
been made. 1t will not however, be as
senate is unanimously of the opinion
that the sitting should not last more
tnan three or four hours.