Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1917-04-07
GERMANY NOW
MUSTREF0RM
HER POLICIES
Entry of U. S. Into War
Makes Prussianism a
Menace.

copenhagen, ApTAA f-\SAo No
don.)-America's entry into the war
evidently has had IN immediate and
strong effect upon the reform move
ment in Germany. The conviction
that the instant modernization of the
Prussian constitution and the procla-
nation of a more democratic basis OF
government and diplomacy in the en-
pire, without waiting for the n OF
the war, is necessary as military
and political measure to counteract
the Tempest of the worlds opinion"
as the Vorwaerts puts 1t, is evidently
gaining ground in all except reaction
airy circles.
The demand that Germany follow
the example of Austria-Hungary and
declare itself in favor of q peace
without a%nnexations is heard from
moderate liberal as we'll as from So
cialist quarters.
Germany Cannot Dictate Terms.
This demand no longer represents
alone the belief of many thinking per-
sons that annexation, except for slight
frontier alterations, would be against
the real interests of Germany. but al
so the realization that after the Unit
ed States Joined the ranks Of the enc
my, the time had passed when Ger
AAAdly COuAu AlOpC W UlCldSo WI AAao VI
peace or even moderate terms.
l.. The Associated Press correspond
ent heard this view in, ven gloomier
terms from various sides in Germany
at the time Of the rupture of relations
between the United States and Ger
many. namely, that il the United
States decided to take an active part
in the war, Germany could no longer
hope to gain a victory, but after
holding out for a year and a half or
two years, must inevitably submit to
ade.
Germany Must Change.
Sufficient evidence Of this change in
er in the Vorwaerts on "America-the
Enemy" The Vorwaerts, which only
a few days ago characterized the re-
form mcScments as a question of Sec
ondary importance to that Of securing
peace with Russia and attracted wide
attention by an article urging that
even the socialists we're not working
against Germany's monarchist gov
eminent, now swings around and de-
clares that the adaptation Of the an
tiquated constitutional forms in Ger.
Of the civilized world is the vital and
burning question of the hour. The
newspaper says:
"Ehe German nation is fighting for
the defense of its house and hearth
and not for antiquated conditions
whose reform long has been promised
and which must disappear immedi-
ately in order to counterfeit the tenn
pest of the worlds public opinion
based on the belief that Germany is
q tyrant and despotic conqueror and
that its enemies are the harbingers of
liberty"
The Vorwaerts speaks of the great
strength OF America as a peace-mak-
ing power, and points out that with
out its cooperation at the peace con-
ference 1t would be impossible to Sc
cure the possibilities for economic de-
velopment which Germany will so
sorely need after the war. It con-
cludes by saying that the most urgent
need of the hour is the organization
Of the national defense under the
auspices of sweeping reforms and the
%clearest and most definite announces
ment OF the nations intention to- con-
duct the war. only to foil the hostile
designs OF annexation and to n the
war.