New-York tribune., 1918-10-24
Reichstag Upholds Prince Max
After Peace Plan Is Outlined

ground
Responsible to Rcichstay
The extraordinary war. time meas
crcs, the Chancellor explained. could
not yet be dispensed with, but they
could be carried out only by The Chan
ce'ior. VITO would be responsible to the
Nelehstag for their application.
His Majesty's decrccs which an
no"nccd recently have now been is
sued, he went on. "rhey concern not
Tn'y inc censorship, the right of pub
nc meeting and restrictions on per-
Sonal liberty, but have to do with eco
NOME social and political matters.
II 'ocal military commanders dis
agree with the civil authorities the de-
c,Sion must be reached Immediately by
,ne highest commander who will not
oo able to promulgate any decision to
"alch agreement is not given by my
sell or my representative, namely. Sec
rotary of State Groeber. Care will be
taken that the state OF siege is main
tanned IN the spirit in which | assumed
the functions of the government and
IN which am resolved to discharge
them"
Speaking Of the powers to be vested
IN the Relchstag under the terms of
the bill provided for the compulsory
cmoodlment in the constitution Of the
fundamental idea Of the new form of
government. He sad the effect would
ne TO make the Rcichstag the peoples
mouse OF representatives, which should
be responsible in the decision of the
most important question for the ma
Non, namely, of peace and war.
For Peaceful DeyeIopment
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 league OF nations has
taken practical form. When such a.
league puts an end to all secret sepa-
rate treaties | am confident that all
agreements can be amplitied in this
sense"
The Chancellor said the German ma
ton long had possessed political rights
which its neighbors envied. He spoke
IN praise of the municipal and Reich
stag elections and said that although
the German people had nc+ made use
OF its power in dealing with vital oues-
tons the development which had oc
CURED at the end of September had
changed everything.
herein lies the guarantee of the
continuance and growth of the new
SYSTEM" he added. "This is q better
and more real guarantee than any law
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 foreign coun-
tries or to meet the needs Of the mo-
ment.
Enemy Is at Our Gates"
THE enemy is at our gates" he said.
After paying tribute to the men at
the front, he added: bad elements are
to be found in every army, but the
fundamental will of the peoples army
is opposed to them.
"My programme of October s 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 Maximilian added, only with
strong misgivings on the part Of the
government, but "the conviction of the
necessity Of bencvoence and trustful
pollcy decided the matter"