Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1917-07-16

RESIGNATION UNEXPECTED.
which have been proceeding all
through the week seemed to have
triurnphed over his opponents, who
have been clamoring for his head. by
making concessions which were tanta-
mount to the formation Of kind OF
imperial coalition ministry.
At the same time the chancellor, by
the declaration that Germany was de-
fensively fighting for the freedom of
its territorial possessions, evolved
formula that seemed satisfactory to
both those who clamored for peace by
agreement and those who demanded
Reputation of the formula mo an
rexations and no indemnities."
Backed By Emperor.
In all this DR.. Won Bethmann- -Holl-
veg was strongly backed by the en-
peror. The advent of the crown prince
upon the scene--summoned by his inn
perial father to share the deliberations
affecting the future of the dynasty.
seems to have changed entirely the
position with regard to the imperial
/ chancellor. ~
The crown prince at ones took
leading part in the discussions with
| the party leaders, and his ancient hos
/ tility toward DR.. Won Bethmann- Holl-
| veg, coupled with his notorious dis
| like for political reform, undoubtedly
precipitated the chancellor's resigna-I
tion.
Generals Called In.
The fact that Field Marshal Won
Hindenburg, chief of staff, and Gen.
eral Won Ludendorff, first quartermas-
ter general, have been most prominent
throughout these discussions and that
a section of the press has been clam
| oring for a joint dictatorship by them
hardly augurs we'll for the realization
of the Prussisn franchise reform,
which the emperor has just decreed,
or for the movement toward a
dininution of Germanys war aims,
and therefore toward peace, on which
the Austrian emperor has been doing
his utmost to persuade the German
emperor to embark.
| The Bavarian ministers have been
among the most active in these,
Michaelis a Bureaucrat.
DR.. Won Bethmann- Hollweg's sue
| cessor, DIR George Michaelis, is a
bureaucrat of the old type, whose ap-
pointment can scarcely be regarded a,
promising much,in the direction Of the
parliamentarization of Germany. En-
tering the Prussian civil service in
1879 at the age of 22, he followed the
customary placid career of Prussian
officials, holding various minor posts
at different provincial places until he
was appointed under secretary In the
finance ministry in 1909. In Febru-
ary, 1917, he received the additional
appointment of Prussian food COM
missioner, a special post authorized by
| the Prussian cabinet.
The only break in the monotonous
routine up to 1909 was period OF
four years, which he spent at Toxic
as lecturer in the German law school
/ there.
Talks with Harnack.
The Reuter- correspondent at Ans
terdam under date of July Is says
| tnt DdVdrldn huTitr, puOHSnCS WHAT
the Rhenische Westfalisehe Zeitung
calls "an almost incredible and sensa-
tionai revelation" to the effect that
Prof. Harnack on June 80, wrote in
a letter which he sent to Munich an
account of an interview he had few
days previous whit DR.. Won Beth
mann Hollweg
| According to this account the chan,
cellor informed Prof. Harnaek that
his views closely apptoximated those
of Phillip Scheidnan, Dr.. Eduard
David, socialists and Dr.. Karl Helms
social democrat, but that he could
not yet free himself entirely from the
influences Of the conservatives who
must first be divided before he obtain
ed free hand for action.
DR.. Won Bethmann-Hollweg said
the greatest danger was from Ger
mans who continued to believe in VIC
tory and added:
SIN the best case it can only be a
draw
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