Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-07-15
nomic reforms became so great that
the kaiser was
Fails to Hush forced to issue
Reform Elements. n,.nanto

the kaiser was.
Fails tn Hush forced to issue
an Easter pro-
A'eAoAn AA1aeAts. nun c amento
stating that elective reforms would be
inaugurated at the close of the war.
This failed to hush those elements
which saw that the world would re-
fuse to treat or make peace with the
German empire as long as the methods
of the present government held sway
and imperialistic as well as milltarlst1c
doctrines were the dominating motives
of the empire. For time the situa-
ton quieted, only to break forth anew
last Saturday a week when Matthias
ErZberger, member of the clerical
party, turned the searchiight on gov
eminent policies and demanded that
there be enunciated the principle of
peace without annexations and indem-
mites, demanded that there be cleo
toral reforms commensurate with the
needs Of the empire. and urged plain
statement of the governments stand
on the peace question.
1t was but natural that ErZberger
should stir up tempest.
Chancellor Won Bethmann HollWeg at
first refused a statement of any char
acter. Vice Chancellor Helfferich Is
said to have defended the government
present policy. The pan Germans and
conservatives who have renamed
steadfast behind the government. i'm
ever the actual utterances in the main
committee Of the retchStag, the fact
nevertheless remains that the political
upheava1 instantly was brought about.
Herr ErZberger was not speaking for
his party organization, it is said. But
nevertheless he has been followed by
large numbers of his fellows. and as
consequence Of this the government
control OF the reichstag is threatened.
A war council was held in Berlin,
Field Marshal Won Hindenburg Gen.
LudendorT and even the crown prince
ATTENDING Undoubtedly the kaiser at
this moment obtained the views Of the
military elements of the nation. The
kaiser later held several conferences
with Won Bethmann Hollweg. his chan
cellor, and for n few days was declared
to be firmly backing his chief spokes-
man. The German chancellor, follow
ing the crown council. made the dec
laration that Germany must fight to
the last gasp" at the same time enun
ciating policy of annexation and in
IDENTITIES in the settlement of the
present war. Tho chancellor once was
reported to have been in sympathy with
the socialists, who demanded no an
nexations and no fndemnities, but his
latest utterance seems to indicate that
he was simply flirting with various
roichstag elements that his own power
might be perpetuated-
The an-Gcrmans, who seem to have
at last won the kaiser's ear insofar as
carrying on n
pan.Germans war Of conquest
Win Kaiser's Ear. m,sa 10 oonnerS
ed. are said to have brought about the
chancollors resignation. This has not
been confirmed, but the facts of the
case probably are that Won Bethmann
Hoilweg, seeing that his continued pol
icy of compromise had pleased no one
and that his future usefulness was at
an end. stepped down.
In order to bring all elements to-
gether for the period of the war, the
kaiser. who is said to be still consider
rg the resignation Of Won Bethmann
Hollweg, not having accepted 1t, may
see fit to GUST several members of the
present ministry, and by the selection
of coalition government. with per
sonnet picked from all factions IN the
reichstag, avoid continuance OF the
present outbreak. thereby obtaining
at least a semblance Of unity until the
war has been completed.
Such n move is very possible and ex-
tremely desirable from German view
point. The radical elements OF the ma
ton undoubtedl will not accept the
annexation and indemnity policy Of
Germany In the present struggle I'M
less there are recompenses In other
directions
With a coalition government such as
is proposed the radicals might be in
trusted with the adjustment Of the In
te1nal conditions about which they have
been harping. Their demands for cleo.
toral and economic as we'll as actual
governmental reforms are as essential
to them as the enunciation of peace
policy by the government. Should the
kaiser be able to compromise by
granting some need of internal re-
form, then undoubtedly he might get
some degree of support In internation-
al issues. Continuance of the war
will lead eventually to further OUT
breaks on the part of the war-worn
German people.
II is reported, with some credenco
attached. that Foreign Secretary Zim-
mermann, Vice Chancellor Helferich