The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-08-25
GERMANY SPLIT
/ ON PEACE STAND
OF CHANCELLOR
Michaelis Can't Control the
Situation-Accused of
Falsehood.

London, Aug. c25-Efforts to pin
down the new Imperial Chancellor to
some attitude on the peace question
particularly on the Pope's note, have
caused considerable bitterness be-
tween Reichstag leaders, but give
little promise of success. Dr. Mi
chaelis seems to be attempting the an
cient feat of sitting on two stools at
the same time, and the effort is no
more likely to be successful in his
case that it has been in the past.
Despite German official denials, the
German newspapers, assert Michaelis
has decided to make Alsace-Lorra1ne
a Federal duchy. with the Herzog Won
Urach, g. member of the third ducal
line Of the Wurtemburg house, the
reigning duke. A majority Fof, the
Alsatian members of the Reichstag
are said to have approved the deci-
sion.
Reports from Berlin describe the
political situation as intolerable. At
the meeting of the Main Committee
of the Reichstag on Wednesday
speeches were made by DR.. Edward
David, the Socialist leader, and Ma
dhias Erzberger, spokesman or the
powerful Centre party. saE
Both, charge that the Chancellor in
declaring his acceptance of the Reich
stag resolution of July 10 introduced
the all. important qualifying phrase
"as 1 understand it" contrary to, his
agreement with the majority parties
and without any hint in prior conf
Dental discussions that he contem-
plated such limitation.
| The Chance1lor's attempted ex-
PLANTATION was rejected by the leaders
whom he addressed and provoked an
outburst which, some of the despatch
ess say, would. have resulted in a
democratic country if he had resign
ed from office. In the name of the
majority parties, Friedrich Ebert. a
Socialist leader, practically charged
| the Chancellor with falsehood.
/ The Tageblatt says the affair is not
merely of passing importance nor can
| it be CLOSED over by few smooth
| phrases. The paper contends it. Is
clear that Chancellor Miehaelis has
situation, chiefly because he was
chosen without the popular represen-
tatives having been consulted.
| The Chance1lor's limitation of the
| Reichstag resolution was made de-
! liberately for the purpose of obtaining
a free hand, is the open boast OF
| prominent Pan-German leaders, such
1
as Count Schwerin, president of the
| Prussian Diet. The government or
gans take the same tone and init
| mate strongly that the government
! really favors the annexation pro
| gram. The Chancel1or's, qualification
! of the Reichstag peace resolution was
| as agreeable to the Conservatives anc
/ National Liberals as it was disagreed
BILE to the majority parties
| In the debate the Radical Socialis
1 George Lebebour declared the reve
| lations regarding peace conditions a.
published by James W. Gerard, the
formerAAmerican Ambassador to Der
fin, were a further proof of the du
plicity Of the German peace policy.
Count Friedrich Won sWestarp, Con
servative, commended that the resolu
| ton had only harmful effect ant
must be thrown overheard. Peace
he declared, should be concluded OF
the basis of Germany's military vic
i tories.
/ The censorship gave free reign t.
the Pan German campaign. but ham
} pered in every way possible the eff
forts of those working on the basi
of. the .Reichstag resolution. TIL
senai- official news agency colored 1t
news service to assist the. circulation
, of the .sannexationist propaganda
} The. speech of Philip. Scheidemanr
, Socialist leader, was forbidden despit
| government assurances that its pub
LEGATION would be allowed.