The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-11-15
TIKI PERIOD OF
NflN ORIfsNTAT1OW


1t was very diticuIt Tor The German
public 10 accept the German reply 10
President Wilson's Sussex note The
people were bitter against the United
States They hated Wilson. They
feared hin. And the idea of the
German government bending its knee
TO man they hated WAS enough
cause for Loud protests, This fee. ing
among the people found plenty OF Out
asts The submarine advocates. who
always had their ears 10 the ground.
saw that they could take advantage
of this public feeling AT the expense
nf the chancellor and the foreign Of
ace. Prince Won 43uelow, the former
chancellor. who ha3 been spending
anost OF his time In Switzerland after
his failure to keep Italy out OF the
war, had written book entitled
tDeutsche PonUk. which was intend
ed 10 be an indictment OF Ven Beth
mann Hollwegs international policies
Won Bneiow returned 10 Berlin at the
psychological moment and began 70
mobilize the forces against the chan
eeilor
After the Sussex dispute was end
ed the Socialist organ, Norwaerts. sup
ported by Philip Scheidemaun. leader
Of the majority of the Socialists. de
manded that the government take
some steps toward peace. But the
general staff was so busy preparing
for the expected allied offensive that
il had no time to think about peace
or about internal questions, when
Won Falkenhayn resigned and Won
Hindenburg arrived st great head
quarters to succeed him the two gen
erals met for the first time In MANY
months. tThere was bitter feeling
between the two) Won Faikenhayn,
ss he turned the Office over TO his
successor said.
Has your exeellency the courage ia
take over this position now"
L have always had the courage
YOUR sxceilency.F replied Won linden
burg. but not the soldiers"
In the rcichs,ag there has been only
ono real democratic party. That Is
the Socialist. The National Liberal
party, which has posed as reform
organization, Is in reality nothing
- ss4cr-~tsfarr f1u~ party controlled BY the
ammunition and war ind ustries. when
these interests heard that submarine
warfare was to be SO restricted as to
be virtually negligible. they began to
SOW seeds OF discomfort among the
ammunition makers These interests
began TO plan for the time when the
submarine warfare would again be
discussed. Their first scheme was TO
try to overthrow the chancellor II
they weTe not success ul then they
intended TO take advantage Of the
dem oeratic movement which was
spreading in Germany to compel the
government to consent to the creation
Of reichstag committee ON foreign
affairs To consult with the foreign Of
fee when Gil questions of information
al policy, including submarine war
fare. SseHe w for discussion SeiZsnE
1hat clause in the German note which
said that Germany would hold herself
free to change her promises IN the
Sussex case II tie United States was
not successful against England, the
navy began to threaten the United
states with renewed submarine war
fare unless President Wilson acted
against Great Britain
Reporting some of these events on
June i2, The Evening Ledger. Of Phil
atelphia. printed the following dis
patch. which ] sent.
Berlin. July 1.-THE overthrow
of Chancellor eon Bethmann- Holi-
veg, champion Of "a conciliatory
policy toward the United States,
and the unloosing of German sub
marines within three months, was
predicted by Won Tirpitz support
ers here today unless President
Wilson acts against the British
blockade.
Members OF the Conservative
party and those faYortng Annesa-
lion OF territory conquered by
Germany joined In the forecast
They said the opinion OF Amer
ioa viii be disregarded
h private source. close 20 the
foreign oftfoe. inG9e this state
nont regarding the attempt 20
unssAf Bethmann Hollweg at
time when the war is approach
ing = crisis;
Iutsss America does some
thing against England within the
next three months there win be
bitter fight against the chan
ceilor. One cannot tell whether
he VIII be able to hold his own
against such opposition. The fu-
ture Of German Annericsn rela-
lions depends upon America"
Despite &Aig political drive