The Washington times., 1917-05-14
HOLLWEG, AT BAY,
TO OUTLINE TERMS
Expected to Announce New
Peace Plan Tomorrow.
MAY BE FORCED TO RESIGN
Too VaciIIating, Is Charge Show.
down Probable at Reichstag.

LONDON, May 1L-Chancellor Won
Bethmann-Hollweg probably will make
announcement Of the central powers new
peace terms in a speech to the Reichstag
tomorrow, an Exchange Telegraph
dispatch from Amsterdam asserted to-
day.
The German chancellor has just re-
turned to Berlin from a series Of con-
ferences with officials In Vienna Prior
TO this he went to German great head
quarters for conference with the Kaiser.
Meanwhile the struggle between sup
porters and opponents Of Imperial Ger
man Chancellor Won Bethmann-Hollweg
has reached a critical stage. according
to adyices from Berlin A show down OF
forces seems likely at the ReichstaE
meeting.
Count Won Bernstorf. former ambas-
sador to Washington, has accepted ap-
pointment as German minister to Swe-
den, but official announcement Of his
new post has been inexplicably with
held. The circumstances Of this failure
to announce Bernstorns appointment
ut in with reports that the former en-
voy to Washington Is being groomed
to succeed either Won Bethmann-HoI-
veg or Foreign Secretary Zimmerman
May Oust Zimmerman, Too
Many German radicals. liberals. social
lists, and adherents Of Macmillan Har-
den are fsyoring Bernstorfs replace
ment Of one or the two others Of these
officials. Berlin information indicates
that Zimmerman more than Hollweg Is
objected to by these liberal elements.
Opposition to Hollweg Is said to be
more due to alleged lack OF steadfast-
ness Of purpose than owing to acts
charged against him His enemies
charge he would be unable to exchange
favorable peace terms. even IL the
claimed naval and military victories
continue. Hollweg Is fighting de-
terminedly. Information here indicates
he may succeed in weathering the pres
ent storm, but It Is believed he viii be
forced out before Germany actually be-
gins dickering for peace.
Reclamation Rumors.
The annexationist press of Berlin
suggests that the chancellor made his !
recent trip to army headquarters to |
offer his resignation, in view Of his |
impossible position between the bat |
teries OF the Conservatives and So |
eialists.
According to the story current in |
Reichstag circles, what happened was |
this: The Kaiser, junkers, and mill |
tarists were alarmed by the radically |
democratic recommendations Of the |
Retehstag committee on constitutional /
reforms, Hindenburg being especially
Infatuated by the attempt of the com
mittee to gain some parliamentary
control OF the army and navy. Hence
the Kaiser proposed to nuIlify all the
proposals by closing the
session of the Reichstag instead Of
merely adjourning the House. This
would mean that all the committee
work Of the House would have to be
done over again in a new session, and
thus the reacuonaries would gain six
It is said that DR.. Won Bethmann-
Hollweg urgently warned against the
OF such a measure,
to resign IL It were taken,
and finally carried his point.
Seeks Separate Peace.
Zimmerman is seeking to retrieve
his reputation. considerably damaged
n the bungling Of the MexiCIn-Jap-
lnese matter, by achieving success in
German intrigue in Russia There is
10 doubt that tremendous e~orts are
'eing directed toward a separate
'eace with Russia. Zimmerman is
instigating vague, semi
'ircumstantial reports tn. : a Russian
Irmistice is impending.
Bernstorffs friends here declare his ,
election as the Stockholm minister is
n EFFORT by Zimmerman and his
riends to sidetrack Bernstorff.