New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-09-10
Germany's Reply to Pope
May Be Drafted by
Committee To-day

tOPENHAGkN, sept. 81 ne CUM
rittee Of seven members of the Reich
STAG and seven members of the Bunde-
,ra,h sppiinted to draw up an answer
10 Pope Benedict's peace note will meet
on Monday afternoon. and the reply
will probably be drafted then, says
Berlin dispatch to-day.
Regarding Belgium, statements by
Berlin correspondents Of the Amster-
dam Catholic organ "Tijd' and the
Vienna Catholic organ "Reichspost," on
the proposal 10 give Belgium complete
autonomy subject to limitations to
prevent it entering into special treaty
relations with the Entente powers or
maintaining a military force beyond
that required for interior policies, or
10 upset the German-made division Of
the country into Walloon and Flemish
halves, have attracted the attention Of
The German press.
The "Lokal Anzeiger" assumes that
this represents the Centrists' solution
Of the situation, but it says the "Tijd's"
'grther assertion that the proposal has
been accepted in principle by the
Double Seven" commission in Ger
many is premature.
statement in the South German
Catholic organ, the Augsburg Post,
declaring that the time had come for
frank declaration that the German
people have not thought of depressing
Belgium economically, politically or
militarily, also is attracting attention.
The meeting of the Double Seven"
committee in Berlin perhaps will show
whether the above represents the
Centrists' conception Of fulflment
Of the Posts wishes.
DR.. Georg Michaelis, the Imperial
German Chancellor, in an interview
sublshed in Stuttgart, shows that the
federated governments are not yet
united. as has been assumed, on the
idea Of creating Alssce-Lorrsine into an
hereditary monarchical state, but that
some Of them are still toying with the
old idea Of dividing the provinces be-
tween Prussia, Bavaria and Baden
Prussia TO retain control of the part
Of prime military importance and the
most valuable mining districts, while
her two partners undertake the task OF
asslml.ating the population OF the
southern section.
The solution of the Polish question
IS TO be announced in a few days. 1t
will begin with the institution OF q
regency Of uncertain powers and the
abolition Of the hated division into
Austrian and German spheres Of ad-
mlnistration.
Expects TO Hold Riga
The Deutsche Bank already has an
nounced its intention to establish a
branch in Riga as soon as conditions
permit. This indicates that Arthur Won
Gwinner, managing director of the
bank, believes Riga hereafter will
remain within the German sphere OF
influence.
The conservative and Psn-Germsn
newspapers daily are playing bolder
WITH the thought of dissolution OF the
keichstag and new elections, when
they claim would, after proper cam
psign Of education, show that ma
yorty OF electors are not in favor OF
peace based on remuneration OF the
Spolls Of victory.
Representative Socialist and Centrist
organs on the other hand, show GER
tam distaste for this suggestion and
profess not TO have the slightest fear
mat the sentiment of the majority OF
.he people can be changed against them.
nut they evidently anticipate that II
'he entire machinery of the govern
ment is modified against them and
elections are held under the patriotic
slogan, "The fatherlsnd is in danger,
s"hlle their own campaign is hampered
oy the censorship, the result might
weaken their hold on the Reichstag.
Dissolution Opposed
The Catholic organ "Germania" and
"a. Cologne "Volkszeitung" both op-
pose dissolution of the Reichstag.
II Is difficult to say how far the an
1eSetionist press is in earnest in It's
demand for a dissolution of the Reichs-
Ng, or whether the campaign carried
0h by them is intended merely to en-
courage Chancellor Michaelis TO disre-
caro- the Reichstag peace resolution
mere is little doubt, however, that the
Conservatives would rather risk cleo
IONS than lose the privilege OF their
caste IN Prussia without fight.
sIhe conservative and Pan-German