Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-07-13
Majority Will Declare Ger
many Is Fighting War of
Defense, Correspondent
Believes; Liberal Peace
Policy to Be Proposed.
NEWSPAPER REPORTS
HOLLWEG HAS QUIT

Washington, o. G, July 12-
Acting Secretary Of State Polk
gave warning at the state depart
ment today against attributin0 too
much importance to oermany's
threatened political upheaval. The
apparent passing OF Of the crisis
Into merely an internal shake-up
confirmed semi-officIai estimates
yesterday and led Mr.. Polk to
summarize the departments atti-
tude az follows:
ut 10 we'll not 70 exaggerate
the real meaning Of Germanys In
ternai strife on her foreign polio
les or on her efforts in the war.
Any changes that may take place
there would be much more import
ant II they affected the military
rather than the civilian side and
II they reach men like Hinden-
burg and Ludendorff for in
stance"
London, July 12.-The plenary ses
sion of the reichstag, which was tc
have opened early in the week, will
sit on Friday, the Exchange Tele'
graphs Copenhagen correspondent ca
bles.
He reports that great political de-
bate will be begun on Saturday and
that a liberal peace formula, declaring
Germany Is fighting defensive wal
is expected to comand large ma
jority.
HoiLwEo REsleNs7
Bene, July 12.-The Vcssische
Zeitung of Berlin says the German
imperial chancellor, Dr.. Bethmann
has resigned. EMPEROR VIII
liam, the newspaper adds, has post.
poned his decision whether to accept
the chancellor's resignation.
The vossische Zeitung has publish
ed sensational news" in the past
which was not confirmed.
An official communication issued In
Berlin yesterday does not indicate
such an action by the chancellor. 1t
says Emperor William expressed the
opinion that the political and constitu-
tional reforms demanded by the reich
stag are such that they concern not
merely himself but his successor. in
asmuch as they would be permanent.
PRINCE At CONFERENCE.
For this reason the emperor sum-
moned the crown prince to attend
one or more crown councils at which
final discussion regarding the extent
10 which the crown and the govern
nent will make concessions in the
Reichstag will be reached. -
.
CHANCELLOR MAKES REPORT.
Amsterdam, July 11-mperor VIII
liam had an interview lasting several
hours with Chancellor Won Bethmann-
yesterday and received his
report on the political situation, 40
cording to q semfomcial dispatch
from Berlin.
The chancellor also received various
party leaders yesterday afternoon,
says an official dispatch from Berlin.
EMPEROR INTERVIEW DENIED.
A semiofficia dispatch from Vienna
says the report in the Vossische lei
tung of an audience that Herr Ma
thias Erzberger, leader OF the centrist
party, in the reichstag. had with the
Austrian Emperor Charles, is pure
Invention.
The crown prince arrived in Berlin
IN a special train from the front and
yesterday noon attended the crown
council at which the emperor presid-
I'D.
REscHsTA0 MEETING DELAYED.
Berlin, July 1l.-Delayed THE
reichstag, which had planned to meet
Today, probably will not convene until
he main committee, whose session
vas postponed at the request of
Won Bethmann-Hollweg.
las concluded its present delibera.
ions.
The situation today was regarded
u more favorable for the chancellor.
CONTINUED on Page s.