The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1917-07-14
KAISER DISCARDS
EIGHT MINISTERS
Action Is Taken in a Compromise
With the Centrist-SociaIi
Reformers.
DELAY REICHSTAG MEETING
Full Sitting of Body Postponed Be-
cause Of Party Differences
Chancellor Refuses to Reveal
Secrets of Crown Council.

Amsterdam, July 1.-THE German
government was reported to have
agreed to retire five Of the Prussian
state ministers in addition to Foreign
Secretary Zimmerman, Vice Chan
cellor Helfferich and Colonial Secre-
tary Solf, In compromise with the
centrist-socialists reformers.
Chancellor Won Hollweg
declined to make known to the reich
stag main committee the proceedings
In the session Of the crown council on
Monday regarding which there is much
speculation within and without Ger
many. The committee then decided
to adjourn. These events are describ-
ed as follows in a semi-offlcial state
ment issued in Berlin:
"The main committee of the reich
stag met at nine o'clock this morning.
Friedrich Ebert SOCIALIST leader) re-
quested the chancellor, who was pres
ent, to give information In regard to
what happened in the crown council
on the ground that knowledge Of what
took place there was necessary for
further fruitful debate. The chancel-
lor, confirming the fact that the crown
council had held a meeting, said he
was unable as yet to make a state.
ment in regard to the results Of the
deliberations. Herr Ebert then moved
\ adjournment of the committee, which
was agreed to-"
Reichstac Meeting Delayed.
zurich, July 12.-The full meeting
Of the reichstag scheduled Tor Wednes
day has been postponed ION accoun
word received here from Berlin. I'm
perial Chancellor Won Bethmann-H oll
veg was reported comforting will
leaders Of all factions. One dfspatcl
carried the report that all the Prus
sian state ministers had resigned theil
posts.
Universal Suffrage Plan.
Copenhagen, July 1.-THE socialist
organ Vorwaerts, copies of which have
just been received here, devotes black
face type to positive reports In the
reichstag that the Prussian govern
ment decided to introduce a bill ir
the diet for universal equal suffrage
this autumn without waiting fol
peace.
Count Won Bernstorff, former Ger
man ambassador at Washington, II
mentioned in the lobby of the reich
stag as candidate to succeed For
eign Minister Zimmerman In case o.
his retirement. The name Of DR.. W
s. Solf, colonial secretary, is also men
toned.
The Vossische Zeitung announces
that the Prussian minister Of the In
terror, Won Lobell, had an audience
with the emperor Monday. Report!
| given under reserve are that Herr vor
F., Lobel recommended to the emperor
! the quickest possible execution Of In
ternal reforms and suggested as
| preliminary to a parliamentary minis
try that all imperial secretaries o
state and Prussian ministers submit
their designations in order to give tn
new chancellor free hand In calling
members of the reichstag to the cati
net.
| The VossiSche Zeitung's reserv
seems justified in view of Herr vol
Lobell's known standpoint.
DR.. Anton Meyer Gerhard, who wa
Count Won Bernstorff's emissary t
Emperor William In connection wit
the Lusitania case and whose activi
ties in the United States were the sub
ject of much comment, has been pre-
noted to be ministerial director o
the German colonial office.
Chancellor Replies to Attack.
The debate in the reichstag mai
committee according to reports re
ceived here, was opened by DR.. Gus
tave Stresemann, national liberal, wit
sharp attack on Chancellor Won Beth
mann-Hollweg's policy, particular
that Of foreign affairs, which he chal
acterized as being based on no definit
consistent program. The chancello
retorted by saying he was forced t
look to all sides for support becaus
the reichstag offered him no stabl
! majority. Give him this and he woul
be able to develop a consistent pre-
gram, he said.
The Vossische Zeitung adds that tn
chancellor expressed readiness an
willingness to carry through necessar
internal reforms.