Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1918-10-07
Prince Macmillan Declares
German Government Has
Undergone Basic AItera-
tion of Leadership.
By Associated Press.

Copenhagen, Oct. 6.-The text of
the address of Prince Maximilian OF
Baden, the new imperial chancellor
of Germany, outlining his policies to
the Reichstag yesterday follows:
"1n accordance with the imperial
decree Of September 50. the German
empire has undergone a basic altera-
ton of its political leadership.
"As successor to Count George
F. Won Hertling, whose services in
behalf of the fatherland deserve the
highest acknowledgment, l have
been summoned by the emperor to
lead the new government.
'In accordance with the govern
mental method now introduced, |
submit to the Reichstag, publicly
and without delay, the principles
upon which | propose to conduct
the grave responsibilities Of the Of
fee.
These principles were firmly es-
tablished by the agreement of the
federated governments and the
leaders of the majority parties in
this honorable house before I de-
cided to assume the duties of chan
cellor. They contain. therefore, not
only my own confession of political
faith, but that of an overwhelming
portion of the German peoples rep
resentatives, that is of the German
nation, which has constituted the
Reichstag on the basis of general,
equitable and secret franchise and
according to their will, Only the
fact that I know the will Of the ma
jority Of the people is back of me
has given me strength to take upon
myself conduct OF the empires af-
fairs in this hard and earnest time
in which are living.
People to Take Active Part.
"One mans shoulders would be
too weak to carry alone the tre-
mendous responsibility which falls
upon the government at present.
Only if the people take active part,
in the broadest sense of the word.
in deciding their destinieS; in other
words, if responsibility also extends
to the majority of their freely elect
ed political leaders, can the leading
statesman confidently assume his
part of the responsibility in the
service of folk and fatherland.
"My resolve to do this has been
especially lightened for me by the
fact that prominent leaders of the
laboring class have found way in
the new government to the highest
Offices of the empire. | see therein
sure guarantee that the new gov
ernment will be supported by the
firm confidence of the broad masses
of the people, without whose true
support the whole undertaking
would be condemned to failure in
advance. Hence, what | say today
| say only not only in my own
name and those of my official help
erS, but IN the name OF the herman
people.
Program of Majority.
"The program of the majority
parties upon which. | take my stand
contains, first, an acceptance of the
answer of the former imperial gov
ernment to Pope Benedict's note of
August |, 1916, and on unconditional
acceptance Of the Reichstag resolu-
tion OF July 10, the same year. 1t
further declares willingness to join
a general league of nations based
upon the foundation of equal rights
for all, both strong and weak.
1T considers this solution of the
Belgian question to lie i'll the COM
plete rehabilitation (wiederherstel-
ling) of Belgium, particularly of its
independence and territorial integ-
rity. An effort shall also be made
Continued on Page Two. Column Four.)