The sun., 1917-07-06
REFORMS DEMANDED.
Revolution Threatened During scs-
zion Of saxon Diet.

sion Of saxon Diet.
CoPENHAGEN, July 5.-Peace. more
food and above all immediate internal
reforms in the German Empire were de-
manded in sessions OF the Reichstag
committee and of the Saxon Diet yes
terday. In the Diet a resolution was
passed after a stormy session in which
revolution in Saxony was threatened.
demanding that Saxony endeavor to OBJ
tain liberal reorganization Of all Ger
many.
These rumblings. preliminary to the
full session Of the Reiohstag. which opens
tomorrow, are almost unparalleled since
the revolutionary days OF 1S4S. They
showed particularly that Socialists and
Radicals are supported by National
Liberals and Clericals in their demand
that the German people have real
voice in the Government. All parties
except the extreme Conservatives seem
discontented with the bureaucracy now
In power.
The discussion in the Saxon Diet was
on internal reform. The occasion for
| the debate was Socialist resolution
| demanding that the Government make
an effort to bring about liberal reor-
ganization in the empire. After Count
Vitzthun, Premier OF Saxony, had de-
clared on the contrary that the Saxon
Government would fight any attempt to
obtain any franchise reform In indi'
vidusl States through the Reichstag, thu
Socialist Vice-President of the House
an ex-soldier. fatty denied that loyalty
to the King played any role with the
soldiers.
says Reform VIII Come.
II. -o..5 Ca,.. xyI..4h,r 40. T., n,
persisting in his reactionary attitude
saying reform would come, IL not from
the Crown then from the mob. Count
Vitzthun attempted to meet the storH
with the old formula. devotion to the
Crown. but even the National Liberals
backed the Socialists with Identical dec
| larations regarding the sentiment among
the people.
One Nationalist said. as a good royal
ist. that he could only hope and pray
that warnings sent to the Governmen
from all parties might reach the King
| Another Nationalist said the vast ma
| jority of Saxons were inspired by al
utter lack. of confidence in the Govern
ment and unless the Government wa
able to rise to the emergency with thu
action demanded he feared for the con
| sequences.
After this debate the Diet adopted tn,
/ Socialist resolution, the Conservative
alone. dissenting.
The Socialist organ, Vort0dettS, in IT.
| Independent report of the proceedings a
yesterdays meeting of the Reichstal
committee. says Herr Ebert. Socialist
devoted considerable attention to tn
unsatisfactory conditions in the nutri
ton of the people and the prospect o
an inadequate supply Of fuel for tn
| mar uyinfar which the fyary1na N
probably will be called on to face.
Herr Erzberger. Clerical leader, ant
Herr Won Payer, Radical. supported II
general Herr Ebert's view of condition
and criticised the Governments ineffi
| cient measures for dealing with tn
problem.
Views ON Peace.
Representatives of various parties ex
pressed divergent views on the peac
question, which was also discussed b.
the committee. Herr Ebert said tn
Government could have peace this sum
mer II II would only offer peace withou
annexations and indemnities to all oppo
nents and abandon separate overture
to Russia.
Herr Erzberger said the formula @
the Russian Council Of Deputies wa
Impossible and impractical. He warne
the Government representatives dBAlnt
awakening false optimism by their state
| mente.
Herr Won Payer said further peac
proffers were harmful and would ten
to defeat the German object. The onl
thing to do. he said, was TO hold ou
meantime bolstering public sentiment b
Immediately beginning the work {
democratizing the country.
A measure giving additional repre-
sentation to a number OF overgrow
urban Industrial Reichstag district
probably will be submitted to tf
Reichstag Party leaders during a col
ference on Monday with Chancellor vo
Bethmann- -Hollweg obtained from II
Government an agreement that this 81
called minor reform programme woul
be Immediately taken up. A committ'
began preparing a report thereon II
immediate presentation TO the Reichsta
Other reforms still slumber
The German Bundesrat, says a Berl
despatch, has approved bill prolongir
the life of the Reichstag. A measul
dealing with the position OF Alsac
Lorraine also was passed by the Bunde
rat.
rerATYAMo DAM Tp EMNTVTC