Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-07-16
NJ |CHAEL|S is FIRST
C0MM0NER CHANCELLOR
Successor to Bethmann-Hollweg Is
Without Even a Noble "Von"
Before His Name.
NO INDICATION OF HIS POLICY
Receives Representatives Of Two Di-
verSent Groups in Reichstag and
Plays Role Of Listener-Appoint-
ment' Means-New Deal OF Cards.
.IBy Assoc,ated Pr.ss. 7

bS
COPENHAGEN. July 15.-Germany's
first commoner Chancellor. DR.. Georg
Michaelis. a bureaucrat. without even
noble won" before his name, has as
yet given no Indication OF his policy
regarding reform and peace. and
neither the Conservatives nor the Lib
erals have ventured to call him their
own.
The Chancellor's first step. which
might be Interpreted as an indicati tion
of an open mind, was to receive rep
resentatives of the two divergent
them to explain their respective stand :
points. the Chancellor playing the role
Of listener TO the conversations con-
Quoted by the Vice Chancellor. DR..
:,arl Helfferich. and the Reichstag rep
resentatives. The German papers unite
in characterizations of his energy and
fair -mindedness, but are most reserved
in their predictions of his probable
policy. The papers aligned for the So
called German peace are perhaps a
shade more enthusiastic about the po-
litical possibilities under the new re-
gime than the radical and Socialist
organs.
The Cologne Volks Zeitung. the
Catholic organ of Pan-German sympa-
thies, says DR.. Sfichaelis undoubtedly
stands nearer the right than the left
parties. The line OF the comment. evil
IDENTIFY emanating from Wilhelmstrasse.
is that the new Chancellor regards as
his mission the restoration OF the in
ternal harmony of the nation, whatever
policy may be adopted. No matter
what else may result. the change will
undoubtedly mean the disappearance of
the Won Bethma4n peace program.
BETHMANN-HOLLW POLICY
ALWAYS a Personal ONE
Dr. Won -Hollweg's policy
regarding the ultimate aims OF the war
had. from the beginning. been per-
sonal one. in which the Chancellor
above the parties" had formed pro-
gram above parliamentary parties. the
military authorities and the Emperor
alike, and he endeavored. by gentle.
steady pressure and suggestion. to i'm
pose it upon changeful sovereign, os-
cillating between vistas of brilliant
ambition and realizations of cold facts;
upon the puissant military caste rep
resented by Field Marshal Won Hinden-
burg and General Ludendorff. and a
laundering, brilliant Parliament.
The appointment Of DR.. Michaelis un-
doubtcdly means new deal of the
cards Berlin papers which were pub
lished before the appointment OF pr
Michaclis was known thrown further
light on the circumstances OF Won Beth
retirement. They show
that the Emperor WAS confronted by
the necessity of dropping the imperial
Chancellor or virtually the entire Prus-
sian Cabinet. the members OF which,
including the War Minister. General
Won stein. a soldier, not a politician,
submitted their designations. declaring
that they would not remain il Won
Hollweg was retained.
PREMIER THROWS
HIMSELF INTO STRUGGLE
The Bavarian Premier. Count Won
Hertling. who favored moderate peace
proposals. but refused fatty to accept
the idea OF parliamentary ministry,
which would diminish Bavaria's spe-
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