New-York tribune., 1918-10-24

directly parliament, with precious
forces from the people which have
hitherto not been utilized"
Prince Maximilan said he hope1
soon to announce results of preliml-
nary negotiations to obtain legal cx-
tension of the Chancellor's responsi-
bility, to be secured by the formation
of a state tribunal.
"Thc new system," he said, "in-
wolves, as natural consequences. a
new mode of government in Alsacc
/ Lorraine
The Chancellor declared 1t was the
aim of himself and his colleagues to
establish the political authority OF the
German people After saying that he
! welcomed expressions OF opinion and
/ that he and his colleagues were agreed
as to methods and purposes he added:
"Our aim is the political authority
OF .he German people. This is the
guiding star of my collahorators and
myself"
Says People Are Rulers
The Chancellor said that individual
members of the government at first had
! different standpoints, but had now been
brought nearer together.
"The German people has long been
in the saddle" he said "Now it is to
ride.
Our first and last thought is for
the brave men who are defending them
selves against superior forces and
whom we must defend against unjust
charges. No one must think he can
attack our army without also attacking
the honor of our people.
The lot of our soldiers to- day is
/ terribly hard. They fight with anxiety
for the homeland and with their minds
fixed on peace. and they hold their
ground"
Responsible to Reichstag
The extraordinary war time meas
ures, the Chancellor explained, could
not yet be dispensed with, but they
! could be carried out only by the Chan
cellor, who would be responsible to the
Reichstag for their application.
His Majesty's DEGREES which | an
nounced recently have now been is
sued he went on. "They concern not
only the censorship, the right of pub
lie meeting and restrictions on per-
sonal liberty, but have to do with eco
nomic, social and political matters.
IF local military commanders dis
agree with the civil authorities the de-
clslon must be reached immediately by
the highest commander. who will not
be able to promulgatc any decision to
which agreement is not given by my
self or my representative, namely. Sec
retary of State Groeber. Care will be
taken that the state oil siege is main
tanned IN the spirit in which I assumed
The functions of the government and
IN which | am resolved to DISCHARGE
them"
Speaking of the powers to be vested
in the Reichstag under the terms of
the new measure, the Chancellor said
the bill provided for the compulsory
embodiment in the constitution Of the
fundamental idea Of the new form OF
government. He said the effect would
ne to make tho Reichstag the peoples
house of representatives, which should
be responsible in the decision of the
most important question for the ma
ton, namely, of peace and war
For Peaceful Development
That means peaceful development
of the empire and its relations with
other powers" he continued. "In such
an extension of the peoples rights the
imperial government is willing to lend
hand when o league Of nations has
taken practical form. When such q
league putssaH end to all secret sapa-
rate treaties ! am confident that all
agreements can be amplhed in this
sense
The Chancellor said the German ma
ton long had possessed political right
which its nclghbors envied He spoke
in praise of the municipal and Reich
stag elections aud said that although
the German people had net made use
of tC
tions the development which had oc-
CURED at the end of September had
changed everything.
"lnere'n lies the guarantee of the
continuance and growth of the new
system" he added "This is better
and more real guarantee than any law
j or paragraph"
The German people, he declared,
must not resort to forms of govern
ment which they did not in their hearts
believe in for the sake of forei ign coun-
tries or to meet the needs of the mo
! ment.
Enemy Is at Our Gates"
Tho enemy is at orr gates" he said.
After paying tribute to the men at
the front, he added: Dad elements arc
TO be found in every army but the
fundamental will OF the peoples army
is opposed to them
"My programme of October 6 en-
braced amnesty for persons under SEN
tence for political crimes, especially
those connected with labor troubles,
street demonstrations, etc. Far reach
ing amnesty Of this nature was pro-
posed by the Emperor and has now
been applied"
Many persons had been set at liberty,
Prince Maximllian added, only with
strong mlsglvings on the part of the
government, but "the conviction of the
necessity of benevolence and a trustful
ro'icv decided the matter"
that he accents the forms aud ra