New-York tribune., 1918-12-15
Fehrenbach's Attempt to
Reconvenc Reichstag Is
Opposed ON All Sides
Critical Stage Is Reached
Armed Counter Revolt Is
Only Alternative Left to
Supporters of Monarchy
Ne,o York Tribune
,Sneciul Cable Service


Special Gable Service
fcon,rtcht. 1915 New York Tribune Inc)
BERLIN, Dec. 13.-The coup at
temnted by konstantin Fehrenbach,
nresident Of the late Reichstag, was
Characteristic of the methods employed
by all counter revolutionaries of all
shades of opinion. Their strongest
weapon is the allegation that the En-
tente Will refuse to negotiate or make
reace with any authority they dislike.
Hitherto they have confined them
selves to ruling out the Soviet system
on this assumption. With how much
success they have accomplished this
nobody knows precisely But Fehren-
bach. in arbitrarily proposing that a
call be sent out for the defunct Reichs-
tag, which approved of the war
throughout It's duration, remaining a
willing tool of the military autocracy,
has brought matters to critical pass.
Such q Reichstag inevitably would be
a counter revolutionary rump parlia-
ment, boycotted by all Socialists, apart
from the Poles and Alsatians.
Seems Doomed to Failure
The uncompromising reply of the
government. wherein it roundly denies
the assertion that the Entente refuses
10 recognize the present government
as representative of Germany and that
the Entente insists upon the resurrec
ton of the old Reichstag and Bundles
liz E'ol, hoo Ok,
able for all the consequences of. this
action, makes it plain that the Fehren-
bach attack must fail. This is the
case unless this is merely a prelude
to much bigger and more perilous
plans.
Such bigger plans could be realized
only by counter revolutionary move
ment with an armed force. Any such
attempt, although very improbable and
almost certainly foredoomed to failure,
could scarcely be delayed beyond the
meeting of the National Congress of
Soviets, called for December 16.
Has Backing of Soviets
The government insists on calling
the National Assembly instead of the
Reichstag and already is vigorously
backed by the Soviets of the Twentieth
Army Corps, who say members of the
late Reichstag must be impeached.
Barth. the man who really organized
the revolution in Berlin, and who is
now accused Of having accepted several
hundred thousand marks from the Rus
sian Soviet government for the purpose,
replies, in a Signficantly venomous ar
tcle in the Independent Socialist organ
"Freiheit,' warning the "reactionaries,"
who demand the Barth impeachme ent,
n OrOyOsa q raiCn of terror
Barth does not deny having organized
the distribution of arms among Berlin
workmen TO crush the resistance of the
revolution. but denies having accepted
money from the Russians. He only re-
grets that the revolution was not
brought about several years ago, and
warns the counter revolutionaries to
be careful in demanding the heads of
the revolutionary movement, for in the
present time Of excitement and exas-
peration the suggestion might easily
unchain the red terror.
Barth also hints that Joffe's wireless
statement that he received money from
the Russians may be a German counter
revolutionary Justification.
Important Changes Expected
learn that important changes may
be expected in the German Foreign Of
fee within the next ten days, whereby
some of the most compromised diplo-
matists and high officials of the old
regime may be removed. l have had a
conversation with Geheimrat Romberg,
director of the English section of the
Berlin Foreign Office, and his assistant,
Legationsrat Roediger. They were both
rather bitter about the unrelenting at
titude of the British government, espe-
Hf ,ov
Lloyd George.
They complained that whereas for
merly Lloyd George protested that Eng
land was not waging war against the
German people, but against its rulers,
ne says now that the German people
also must expiate their crimes.
asked whether they had anything to
say regarding their idea of the future
Of the Anglo German relations. They
replied: at is now for England to make
Shown her intentions in that respect
ior any advance made by Germany in
ner present position would be sure to
be misinterpreted."
High Praise for Wilson
Romberg spoke with particular heat
q the deep disappointment felt by the
German diplomatists, who had so long
looked upon England as their ideal in
llar-seelng real policy, free from emo
uiohal eXaggerati tions. Roediger was
tSety cool, but, if anything. even more
pitter' On the other hand, he bestowed
much praise upon President Wilson's
slatesmanship, saying he was a man
who mad throughout remained true to
tn;, tnl;nsef, and whose programme was nov
trlgue ridiculous.
Both Indignantly repudiated the sug.
gseseion that Germany is now trying tt
Grlve a wedge between England anc
tnnaerica,, adding that differences be
oween them on the league of nations
ahd disarmament were so glaring as tc
make any suggestion of German in
Frigue ridiculous.