The sun., 1917-03-31
PRUSSIAN JUNKERS
OPPOSE REFORMS
Germany Would Be Ruined by
Democratic Franchise, Says
Count Won Room.

Special Cable Despatch to TEs Sex from the
London Times.
LONDON, March 30.-The debate on
constitutional reform in the upper house
of the Pruss!an Diet was mainly remark
able for the strong opposition offered by
the Conservatives to all proposals for
increasing popular rights. This opposi-
ton is believed to have been responsible
for the Imperial Chancellor's decision to
postpone franchise reform until after the
war.
there was any special urgency about re-
forms. He scoffed at the idea that the
men in the trenches concerned them
selves with the question of the Parlia-
mentary vote. For him any further
characterization Of State institutions
meant restrictions OF the rights OF the
Federal States and any extension Of
Parliamentary rights meant restriction
Of the rights OF the Crown.
Every one in Prussia had freedom, he
said, except freedom to steal and muir
der. Hands off the old Prussia" he
exclaimed.
Count Won Rooms Opinion.
Similar language was used by Count
Won Room. who declared that "our Prus-
sian fatherland. the heart Of the Ger
man Empire. would be ruined by a
liberal, democratic electoral franchise" ."
MY highest war aim is to maintain
the Crown and monarchy as high as the
Heavens he added.
Duke Ernst Gunther zu Schleswig-
Holstein repudiated these speakers as
not having spoken In the name Of the
Conservative party. but the DnsseldorJer
neraidns seiger pointed out two days
,l,as III No ....s,
OF opinion In the Conservative party.
Herr Won Breitenbach. Minister OF
Public Works. ostensibiy defending the
Imperial Chancellor insisted that re-
form. especially electoral reform, would
have 10 be postponed until after the war.
The Koelnische Volkszettung says the
proposal for Reichstag universal fran
chise in Prussia will never have ma
jority OF the upper house and perhaps
not a dozen advocates. Emphasis is
laid on the need for postponement of re-
form.
In spite of many smooth utterances,
the most important feature OF the debate
was that 1t was perfectly evident that
no serious reforms will be introduced
until military defeat has impressed all
elements of the reactionaries of the Ina
possibility of further resistance.
Reminder to Chancellor.
The TdJebldn comments as follows on
Or. Won Bethmann Hollwegs decision:
"It Is n great pity that the prospect
of Internal reforms now appears to have
taken the wrong path. The Chancellor
ought to have been reminded OF his own
words, "A curse on the statesman who
fails to understand his own age or lets
slip his opportunity
Tho Vossische Zettun0 is quoted as
saying: "If the Government leaves US In
, the lurch we shall have to help our
| selves. Parliament. as the representa-
tive OF the people. must take reform
| into It's own hands. Deeds by reso-
/ lutte Reichstag are OF more weigh,
| than the words of u feeble Chancellor
DIR. Peter SPAIN, leader OF the Cath
ole Centre party. speaking In the
Re!chstag debate. said that the mon.
archs Of all the Entente nations were
tottering on their thrones. Those who
| had been forced to leave their coun
tries would certainly have been de-
throned had they remained. Even the
Italian throne, he asserted. was un
stable. II It came to blows with Amer
lea Germany would be found ready.
Gustav Noske. one Of the Socialist
leaders. said he hoped the war loar
would be a complete success. He EN-
| phasized the fact that Germany hat
not intended to conquer China, ane
hoped that after the war good relation,
( ContfnaLed an Tklrd po0e