The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-03-21
Drastic U-BOat Bill May Not
Come to Vote.
Imperial Chancellor and His
Friends Control Again.
DEMAND UNRESTRICTED RAIDS
Popular Opinion in Germany
Wants Vengeance.
But Diplomats Claim Safety
Brakes Are on Now.

i's Berlin. March 21.-Frisnds of the
imperial chancellor, DR.. Won Beth
paann-H ollweg, are now quite conf
dent that he has well in hand the po-
liticaI situation connected with the dis
placement of Admiral Won Tirpitz as
minister of marine and that there need
be no fear that it will develop into
what is termed a chancellors crisis:
They believe the national, liberal ana
conservative resolutions calling for
unlimited use of submarines against
hostile vessels, with the exception OF
passenger ships, may not even come
TO the point of open discussion and a
vote in the reichstag.
The prime movers in the agitation
Herr Won Heyderbrand, conservative
leader in the reichstag, and Major
Ernst Basseruian, national liberal
leader-have avoided Introduction Of
interpretations to which the chancel-
Tor would be forced to reply and nave
chosen to clothe their proposals in the
form of Resolutions which unless they
are made urgent measures Will take
their place in the regular order of res
oIiitions.
SidetracE U-Boat Rule.
$50 many other important resolu-
Fons have precedence that discussion
of the submarine proposals in TINS
event would be postponed INDEFINITE
10 In any case the chancellor scarce
III will speak upon subject matter OF
the resolution unless he is compelled
to do so.
The movement which found express
sion in the resolution is composed OF
two constituent elements. First there
is the large body Of popular opinion
which honestly interested in the sub
marine weapon, desires that II may
have an opportunity TO display IT'S ell
ffcacy unhampered by political re-
.strictions This element generally is
Of motives
which play a part in the movement.
Second, there are those who are now
and long have been DESTROYS of having
another chancellor-one who would
permit discussion of peace terms. the
projects of the anneXationiSts and the
Sharpening of the submarine cam
paign regardless of the political dan
ger.
Check on Socialists.
This element would renounce the
idea of Prussian franchise reform
after the war and administer check
to the Socialists as party entitled to
a voice in the affairs of the nation.
Some of these have Admiral Won Tir-
pitt in mind as the proper chancellor
while others have no special candidate
1sr the post.
The chancellor, his friends say, has
proved much stronger than his OPP
ponents expected both at headquar-
tiers where he won in the test of
strength and among the people where
he had widespread support, particu-
larly of the great body of lower mid
die classes.
The moderate character of the
chancelIor's ideas regarding the nature
of Germany's ultimate peace program
and the advisability of avoiding meas
ures which might bring new enemies
into the field, which gained for him
topposition of the Pan-Germans and
the more extreme annexationists,
brought him popular support. With
such assistance and with the aid o. the
more enlightened public opinion the
aohancellor is confident of his ability
ito control the situation.
Motive of U-Boat Raids.
Regarding the Immediate occasion
sof the conflict, it is said advocates OF
unrestricted use of submarines argued
sthat by proclamation of a regular
blockade and declaration of intention
Ito sink all merchant ships bound fol
tEngland, it would be possible to force
Great Britain to make peace overtures
within two months. This argument
found a certain amount of support al
Headquarters until it was checked by
the counter argument that the effec
probably would be to lengthen in
stead of shorten the war, owing to the
effect on neutraIs