The Washington herald., 1917-07-14
GERMAN CRISIS CAUSE
CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONE.

| CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONE.
] the establishment of equal manhood
suffrage; second. demand by the
Reichstag that the government
should declare its adherence to the
so-called war program of August T.
| 1914" which stated that Germany
was not driven to war by the desire
of conquest. but that the German
people took up arms only in defense
of freedom, independence and to
guard their territorial possessions.
Suffrage Issue.
Shold elections to the Prussian Diet
be based on equal manhood suf-
frage, control OF the Diet would pass
from the Junker parties to the
Socialists. Radicals and Clericals, and
the internal affairs of Prussia would
cease to be controlled by the land
holding aristocrats OF East Prussia.
But splendid as this reform would
be, 1t would not touch the two vital
featurers in which Germany's con-
stitution must be changed before the
German people will control thir gov
ernment. Germany will not be on the
road to political freedom until the
Chancellor has been made respon-
sible to the Reichstag and until the
Chancellor has been given control over
the military authorities.
At present not only has the Reich
stag no control whatever over the
Chancellor who is responsible to the
Emperor alone, but the Chancellor is
utterly without authority over the
military leaders. As a result, in the
words of one Of Germany's fore
most statesmen.
The military authorities do as they
please and leave the civil authorities
to come along behind and apologize"
Until the people OF Germany control
their Chancellor and through him con-
troll their field marshals no more re-
form of electoral laws will make them
masters Of their fate. Therefore. un-
less the present crisis develops far
beyond its present scope. IT will not
begin to make Germany democratic
nation.
Allowances Made.
Similarly, the passage by the Reich
stag of a resolution demanding that
the government declare its adherence
to the war program of August 4,
1914" would not be so important a
step toward peace as it would appear
to be on its face. First, it must be
noted that. owing to the reluctance
of the National Liberals and many
members of the Roman Catholic Cen
trum party 10 subscribe to a peace
without extensive anneXations, It is
doubtful whether or not a majority
in the Reichstag can be obtained for
the resolution. Second. because Of its
constitutional impotence, the Reich
stag cannot force the government to
act on any such resolution Il may pass.
Third. even though the government
should declare its adhesion to the
war program OF August 4. 1914" this
would not be an explicit offer of peace
without annexations or indemnities.
For it would leave the way open for
anneXations under the alias OF read
justment of strategic frontiers" and
for indemnities under the pseudonym
of ''reparation."
Nevertheless, the disposition to come
out frankly in support of peace with
out anneXations or indemnities is in
creasing among all the political par
ties Of Germany except the Conserva-
tiyes and the National Liberals. Both
wings Of the Socialist Party, with
their 10 votes in the Reichstag, have
gone on record in favor Of such
peace. The Progressive Peoples
Party, which has forty-two represent
atives in the Reichstag. is opposed to
anneXations on the western front, and
is beginning to abandon its desire for
the annexation Of the Courland Final
ly. the Roman Catholic Centrum
/ Tarty. with it's ninety Reichstag men,
bers, though still split on the Ques-
tion. is turning rapidly to the stand
point OF peace without annexations or
indemnities.
Influence of Austria.
There is reason to believe that the
influence Of Austria Hungary is be
hind the sudden swing of the centrum