The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-07-17
Former Ministry Is Bitterly
Criticised for Policy of De-
ception Toward America
MICHAELIS TO MAKE
HIS SPEECH THURSDAY
Party Leaders Will Demand
Straightout Reversal of War
Aim Declarations of Beth
mann-Hollweg

Amsterdam. July 16.-Out of the
storm clouds still lowering ominous-
~ over the German empire flashes of
popular lightning are shooting down
with ever increasing force. aimed at
the root of the system against
which America drew the sword three
months ago. With each crash Wood
row Wilson's words. Peace without
victory. are echoing from one end
to the other of the kaisers realm.
Today's news from Berlin tore the
mask off the crisis which for ten days
has been, for the outside world. pa
radtng under ever conceivable false
color
1t became apparent that the new
majority in the reichstag. represent
ing the bulk Of the German masses,
want Wilson peace ana want II this
year.
They warf 1t while it can sttll be
obtained. before active American par
ticipation and American sacrifices
turn America al the peace table into
an enemy as a hard and uncompromis-
Ing as Germany's western foes.
Peace now without victory and even
with loss they argue. is preferable
to terms imposed by a world of enc
mics next year after a possible mill
tary defeat and with the central al
lance possibly dsreputed. The
hloc-consisting or centrists So
clalists, radicals and part Of
national liberals--proposes to fight 70
the finish for this peace at all costs
They have a powerful ally in the
majority of the parties and the Gov
eminent of Austria
New Chancellor Speaks THURSDAY
The first gun in This tight VIII he
fired on Thursday. when DR. Mich
aeiis, the new chancellor. MAKES his
debut. mere declaration OF his
proposed policy clothed in well-chosen
but evasive phrases will lot do
The bloc proposes to have him sub
scribe 10 every word nf its resoiu-
ton. the main principles of whi9h +
peace without annexations ana in
IDENTITIES"
He must completely reverse the gov
ernment's policy as propounded eniy
tell Cfays ago tly 'Fettniann- II oriweg.
who refused TO subscribe TO that prtr-
ciple.
But today word came from the
seething German capital OF further
strides IN the epoch making insurrec-
ton. Having finally lined up the ma
iority behind its original peace for
mula, which gave no hint whatever Of
Centre spurred on by its swift tri-
umph, promptly mapped out a pro-
gram Of actual peace efforts" The
well-tnformed Tageblatt stands spon-
sor for the statement that there were
only two dissenting voices when the
party decided 10 urge such efforts, re-
CARELESS of what the national liberals
might do.
Pan Germans Furious
The pan-Germans are furious. With
the swift waning OF the Junker pow
err. and the consequent topping OF
old Prussia, they see the empires af-
fairs slipping from autocracv's rains
into the hands of the Ignorant
masses" and the spectacle Of the
recent Russian disqualification repeat
cd But to this the Centrsts have
Arm answer. In every utterance, and
f'nn. 'Sey emphasize that playing in
particularly in their peace resolu-
To the enemy's hands is furtherest
from their minds. that national unity
Is their highest aim. and that the ma
ton Will fight to the finish if the en-
ten'c insists On its aims of conquest |
and spoilation.
Hero lies the crux Of the situation. /
today's DISPATCHES clearly showed: |
Taking mp President Wilson's asser- !
ton that Americas war is against a /
system, not against the German peo-
pie. Erzherger and his followers mean !
to uproot the system. form a solid I
block OF representatives OF the people /
and declare with Russia. we are /
ready for peace without victory That !
and that alone in their opinion can /
force the western entente powers TO /
revise their war aims to mako them
harmon with the 'paace without /
and indemnitjcs princi- /
Pies"
A Wave OF EnltghteDment. +
The wave OF enliEhtenfpent as to the /
--.-~.--
(CnptipnoJ IN Cecord Do I,