Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1917-07-16
reforms PUT OUT
BETHNANH- HOLLWEC
Kaiser May be Giving Credit
to Crown Prince TO
Popularize Him
PEACE STILL IS
FAR IN FUTURE

LONDON. July 1e.-Tho highest
diplomatic authorities among the AL
led statesmen seem TO be In agree
ment upon tho fact that the rosigna-
ton Of Dr. Won Bethmann-Hollweg as
Imperial Chancellor Of Germany was
brought about solely as the result Of
the demands throughout the empire
for internal reform. These demands
hinge primarily upon tho issue OF
granting universal franchise rights to
The electors. with the more remote
idea Of making the government re-
sponsiye to the control OF parliament
tary forces as a secondary proposal.
In no quarter OF authority Is the
change to GeOrg Michaelis taken as
meaning that there Is 10 be any vital
change In the attitude OF the German
Government respecting peace pro-
posals or the conduct OF the war,
either toward the United States OF
toward the other members OF the
present family Of Entente nations.
In tho long but rather uneventful
Official career OF Michaclia there Is
no known factor that can DO taken as
suggesting that he viii adopt
any less ruthless policy than that
which has marked the tenure OF his
predecessor IN the authorities look
upon the Reichs,Gg peace resolution,
just made public, as having any more
definite relation TO world peace than
a peace movement that might be
started IN tho United States az this
time.
AS TO the part played by the Crown
Prince in the undressing OF Or. Won
Bcthmann-Hollweg. the best opinion
Is that there is small foundation for
assuming that the Crown Prince
really played any large part I'm the
matter, u is pointed out that tho
Crown Prince lacks both the authority
and the prestige essential TO engineer
any State matter OF such import On
the other hand. 81 Is stated the Crown
Prince has lost some OF his own pop
ular hold With this IN view the
opportunity OF making for him some
capital IN the public eye by having Il
appear that he was factor in dis
placing an unpopular minister may
have led tho Kaiser TO give some
prominence to the counsels Of tho
heir to the throne.
Apparently the censor has clamped
down the lid on the latest develop
ments in Berlin The papers, which
but lately discussed the internal stu
alton with a freedom never before
permitted In such emergency, sud
denly have ceased taking the outside
world into their confidence.
There does come. however, through
the channels TO Holland, Scandinavia
and Switzerland comment which sug-
gests that the Glasgow speech or
Premier David Lloyd George, Presi-
dent Wilson's uttcrances and the adj
dresses from Premier Ribot all
vomiting TO the necessity for making
Germany democratic as condition
nfrrfuufslte 10 the discussion OF peace.
have had some place in the German
consideration.
But however much this comment
NAV obtain in some channels, the TACT
r{mains that Dr. Won Bothniann7Holi-
sreg has been succeeded 10y COM
pnratively unknown man. who may
prove 10 be tool in the hands or tho
rather than tho bearer
OF an olive branch.
As political potentially there 4
little information concerning MI |
chaells. He proved 20 be strong |
administrative officer during mis-
regime as Food Comptroller In some !
quarters Il Is thought that he is like
IS 20 be merely stop gap who will
give way to some moro skilled and
experienced intornationalist who
presently win succeed to the Chan
cellarship with the expectation that
he will handle the German interests
at the ultimate peace conference.
Amsterdam reports that the Crown
Prince Marshal Won Hindenburg and
General Won Ludendorn conferred
with the political leaders before the
acceptance OF DIT. Won Bethmann-Holl-
wez'e resignation TO +hem the Crown
Prince is reported 20 have said;
'Father wants me to come 20 m in
dependent conclusion about the Chan
cellog's policy
Theodor Wolff. commenting on this,
SAYS: If the Chancellor retires now
the Grown Prince apparently has
taken matters in his own hands. Our
enemies will surely say that the
Chancellors fall was occasioned by
the milltarist party which will reduce
instead Of enhancing the chances Of
peace. The Crown Prince is regard
ed as the incarnation OF militarism. p"
South German opinion Is that MI
chaelis will execute internal reforms
and even may grant Ministerial re-
sponsibility TO the Reichstag. but will
continue the war until he receives
assurances OF Germany's political and
economic future. this Il include re-
tention BY Germany OF all the terri
tory she held before the war. such rs
Alsa<e-Iorraine and the Polish prov
inces. and also economic control OF
Belgium.
The importance of Austrian innu-
ence in the German crisis Is conceded
but how it worked is little understood.
Significance is attached. however, 10
the fact that the zeitung am
Fittag OF Berlin declares that
Count Brockdorf Rantzau MIN
lister at Copenhagen. will become
Minister of Foreign Affairs I'm place OF
Dr. Alfred Zimmerman.
BIDS AUSTRIA