The sun., 1917-07-15
Fought Imperial Plan for
Granting Extension of
Franchise.
Won STEIN ALSO OUT
Prussian War Minister
Wanted No Peace With
out Annexations.
NEW MAN is A LIBERAL
Crown Prince at Fathers Die
tation Led Campaign
to Depose Leader.
NEW MAN is A LIBERAL

LONDON July 14.-Dr. Won Beth
mann-Hollweg, the German Imperial
Chancellor, resigned to-day, the eighth
anniversary of his induction into the
office. The Emperor accepted the
resignation and appointed DR.. Georg
Michaelis. Prussian Under Secretary
of Finance and Food Commissioner, to
the Imperial Chancellorship.
The message relating to the resig-
nation of the Chancellor was circulated
through the wireless stations by tho
German Government and was received
by the British Admiralty.
II is understood that Won Bethmann-
Hollweg had refused to indorse the
Kaiser's electoral reform project Not
less interesting is the report that DR..
Michaelis is Of strong liberal inclina
tions.
Prussian Minister Resigns.
Another development OF considerable
significance is recorded on what appears
to be good authority A Berne despatch
says an official telegram has been re-
ceived there from Berlin announcing the
| resignation of Gen. Won Stein, the Prus-
sian Minister OF War. The Importance
of his retirement lies in the fact that
the Prussian War Ministry is in reality
! the War Ministry for the German EN-
pire and that Gen. von Stein is a stanch
supporter OF the pan-Germans who are
the bitterest opponents Of the policy of
peace without annexatlons or indemni-
ties Recently he Aroused the Ire of the
| Soclalists by. taking part in the dis
| tributiqn of pan-Gerrnan propaganda
against peace efforts.
, From all accounts, Won Bethmann-
Hollweg's retirement was preceded by
much activity on the part of the Crown
Prince, the Emperors eldest son MAX
ing no secret of his opposition to the
Imperial Chancellor A Copenhagen
| despatch to the Exchange Telegraph
Company says 1t is officially reported
| that Field Marshal Won Hindenburg
chief of the General STAFF. and Gen.
| Ludendorff arrived in Berlin yesterday
morning in response to an imperial
summons. According to the TdOe blGtt,
they had long conference with the
Crown Prince before being received by
the Emperor.
Fought by Crown Prince.
BY means OF a skilful play on words
! Theodor Wolff intimates in the Taoe-
bIdtt that II was the Crown Prince who
started the movement to unseat Won
Bethmann-Hollweg Herr Wolff pre-.
dicted that the formers activity would
be so interpreted as not to increase the
{ chances of peace, Foreign opinion the
| TdDebldtt writer believes, will hold the
| Crown Princes party responsible for
| the Chancellors fall
According TO Berlin newspapers, the
Crown Prince in interviews Thursday
with Reichstag party leaders, including
| Herr David and other Socialists, inter
ested himself chiefly in obtaining from
the Deputies their views on the person
ality and policy of the Chancellor. He
quizzed each Deputy In private, the in
! dlVidual audiences lasting more than
half an hour each. He is reported to
have said that he did this in accordance
with the wish of the Emperor, who had
suggested that he form his own opinion
OF the Chancellor's policy through inter
views with party leaders.
Ihe Tdgebiatt openly regrets Won
Bethmann- -Hollweg's retirement. The
Socialist organ Portoderts assumes that
the royal instructions insure the passage
OF the Prussian reform bill in the form
prescribed by the Kaiser Other papers
believe the Conservatives are capable of
disobeying the sovereign and frustrating
reform,
Reconciliation Needed.
Baron Won Zedlitz, the Free Conserva-
tive leader, says In the nOrgenpOSt that
unless circumstances, notably the out
come OF the war, affect the decision II
may be assumed that the majorities In
both houses OF the Prussian Parliament
will pass only a half way suffrage meas
ure. The BourSe Gdsette. National Lib
eral, says a majority of that party can.
not be counted upon to support equal
suffrage in Prussia. The Tdgeblatt and
other journals assume that thorough
reorganization OF the upper house will
be necessary before the equal suffrage
bill can pass,
The Conservatives and members of
the Clerical or Centre party in the Diet
have started to play for delay and pro
fess now to believe II will be impossible
for the Government to submit the bill
before October According to Berlin
despatch by way of Amsterdam, the
Conservative party has published
statement that Il cannot admit that the
new franchise measures have been made
necessary by the experiences Of the war
or that they can be regarded ms calcu,
lated to help in surmounting the dim
I cultles OF the existing situation or In
strengthening the will Of the people for
victory.
According to a Berlin telegram. dur
4 ing the meeting Of the main committee
, OF the Rechstag Friday Socialist
speaker moved that adjournment be
taken because the political situation
! was not sufficiently clear for the Gov
ernment 10 take position on the ques-
r tIons which had been raised, DIR. Karl
Z HeIfHerich, Secretary OF the Interior anc
4 Vice-Chancello:. replied that Dr. Won
4 Botamann-Hollweg had h@en prevented
, | a hAfnra h.