Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-07-16
NEW CHANCELLOR
TO REVEAL POLICIES
DR.. MichaeIis, First Commoner
to Hold Post, to Appear Be-
fore Reichstag Thursday.
ARMY LEADERS IN BERLIN

hichaells, the new chancellor, will de-
liver his maiden speech in the reichstag
The address is expected to
contain an announcement of his forth
coming program. and it Is awaited with
a great deal of interest
Field Marshal Won Hindenburg and
Gen. Ludendorff, who were summoned
to Berlin by Emperor william. are con-
their conference with party
leaders. DR.. Michaelis is participating in
them.
Representatives of the Berlin press
were received Saturday by Gen Luden-
dorff. who discussed the military situa-
tion. He said the situation on all fronts
was favorable.
The pan-German Independent League
met and adopted a resolution of protest
against the proposed peace action OF
the reichstag majority. declaring the
adoption OF the majority program
would result in the indefinite continu-
ance Of the war. and the political and
economic ruin of the Germans.
DR.. Michaelis is the father of family
OF size encouraged by Emperor Will
liam. He had six children, but one son
has been killed in the war. Two
daughters are engaged in public well
rare work and the third daughter Is in
charge OF soldiers convalescent home.
r.
Germany's first commoner chancellor
has as yet given no indication of his
policy regarding reform and peace.
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 indication
sentatives Of the two divergent groups
in the reichstag and permit them to ex-
plain their respective standpoints. the
chancellor playing the role of listener
to the conversations conducted by the
vice chancellor, DIR. Karl Helfferich.
and the reichstag representatives. The
German papers unite in characterize.
tfons OF his energy and fairminded-
ness. but are most reserved in their
predictions Of his probable policy. The
papers aligned for the so-called Ger
man peace are perhaps a shade moro
enthusiastic about the political possi-
bflfties under the new regime than the
radical and socialist organs.
Would Restore Harmony.
The Cologne vo1ksseitung. the Cath-
o1ic organ Of pan-German sympathies,
says DR.. Michaelis. undoubtedly stands
nearer the right than the left party.
The line Of the comment, evidently en-
anating fram Wilhelmstrasse, is that
the new chancellor regards as his mis-
mony Of the nation, whatever policy
may be adopted. No matter what else
may result, the change will undoubted-
ly mean the disappearance of the Won
Bethmann peace program.
DR.. Won Bethmann Hol1weg's policy
the ultimate aims Of the war
had from the beginning been a personal
one. in which "the chancellor above the
parties" had formed a program above
parliamentary parties. the military au-
Lhnv ND t1n oil onI
le endeavored by gentle. steady pres
sure and suggestion to impose 1t upon
/ changeful sovereign oscillating be-
,ween vistaS of brilliant ambition and
,uissant military caste represented by
field Marshal Won Hindenburg and Gen.
Iudendorff. and a blundering. unbril-
liant parliament.
New Deal of the Cards.
The appointment Of DR.. Michaelis
means a new deal of the
cards. Berlin papers which were pub
ished before the appointment of DR..
was known throw further
light on the circumstances of von2
Bethmann -Hollweg's retirement. They
show that the emperor was confronted
oy the necessity of dropping the i'm
oerial chancellor or virtually the en-
ire Prussian cabinet, the members Of
General Won Stein, soldier. not a poll |
:ician, submitted their designations, |
leclartng that they could not remain /
Z Won Bethmann Hollweg was retained. /
The Bavarian premier. Count Won I
who favored moderate peace |
but refused fatty to accept |
he idea of a parliamentary ministry. !
which would diminish Bavaria's special /
influence on the government, seems to !
lave thrown himself into the struggle I
Dath
minute. The Bavarian centrist menu .
,ers of the refchstag started an anti
von Bethmann revolt within the party
md the crown prince made valid his
ong standing objections to the inn
,eria1 chancellor.
Would Sidetrack Peace.
Field Marshal Won Hindenburg and
Cen. Ludendorff were again summoned
% Berlin. not to interfere, according to
he unanimous accounts in the Berlin
papers, in the political side of the sit
lation. but to sidetrack the proposed
,eace resolution by giving encouraging
'eports of the military situation and to
inspire the members of the reichstas
With the belief in the possibility of OBJ
aiming that German peace worthy Of
he sacrifices made" to which Won Hin
ienburg over and over again had COM
nitted himself in his published replies.
% the memorials of pan-German or
"a aniZations.
Before the selection of DR.. Michaelis
became known the papers generally
Lgreed that Won Bethmann Hollweg'a
etirement would be accomplished by
weeping changes in the imperial and
'russian administrations. The feeling
vas general that a large part of the
ecretaries Of state and ministers who
lad been In Office since and before the
var and had exhausted their efficiency
nd availability through long contin.
Iance at their posts under the tremen-
ous responsibilities of the war should
e replaced by fresh hands and brains
Without any membranes of the past.
''Meant Well Feebly."
This, in the ultimate analysis, prob
bly, was one of the chief considera-
ons impelling the emperor to accept
le resignation of a personally SYM
athletic statesman, who. according to
'erwaerts in his political obituary,
meant well feebly; whose wish was to
,nduct the war as. a defensive strue-
le and prevent its extension, to new
1emies. but who yielded to forces
ronger in purpose than himself and
ho wanted to base his policy upon the
road basis of democracy, but who
cked energy and force to draw the
ecessary conclusions therefrom."
,eichstag Leaders
Peace Resolution to
Remains Unclaimed