The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-10-23
REICHSTAG TOLD
BY MAMMALIAN
THAT The CRISIS
IS now REACHED
German Chancellor Warns
Members to Limit Their
Peace Debates


.-E
Copenhagen, Oct. 2s.-Peace con-
versations between Berlin and Wash
ington have reached critical point,
according to Prince Macmillan, the
imperial German chancellor. speaking
before the reichstag yesterday.
In the course OF his address he
| urged that debate on the situation
arising in exchange OF notes between
himself and President Wilson be re-
stricted as much as possible. "The
whole German people is anxious to
hear the views OF the government re-
garding the prospects Of peace" he
said, "but I am able to speak only
with the greatest reserve and urge
that the members of the reichstag
limit debate, as is consistent with the
seriousness OF the hour. The whole
German people have been spoken to
by the President and this fact gives
\ the utterance of the representatives
Of all parties added force. ...
To-day, Therefore, I am going to
say only this regarding the interna-
tional situation: The Presidents
first answer. to the peace move of
the German government has in all
countries brought the questions of a
peace OF justice or a peace Of vio-
lence to the deciding point. Presi-
dent Wilson's last note did not make
clear to the, German people how this
| public agitation will end. His. next
answer will perhaps bring definite
certainty. Until then we must In all
. our thoughts and In our actions pre-
pare for both eventualities-first that
the enemy governments are anxious
| for war, in Mhich case there is no
-. THayHA 81
in posture of defense with all the
strength of our people driven to the
last extremity. ...-
To Defend FatherIand.
SHOULD this necessity arise, ] have
no doubt that the German govern
ment in the name Of the German
people will issue a call for national
defense in the same way that 1t spoke
for the German people when it took
action for peace He who honestly
took a stand on the basis OF peace
will also undertake the duty of not
submitting to peace Of violence
without a fight. The government
which would act otherwise would be
left to the mercy of the fighting and
working people. It would be swept
away by public opinion. II
f'There is also another possibility.
The German people must not be
blindly brought to the conference
table. The German people today has
the right to ask, If peace is realized
on the basis Of Presient Wilson'S.
iconditions what they mean for our
future. Our answers to the Presi-
dents question must be framed on
the German peoples understanding
OF that question. What 1t now wants
| is clearness."
Prince Maximilian said that he
would not deny that heavy opposition
in Germany must be conquered before
the ideal league OF nations could be
REALIZED but he continued: Whether
the next few days or weeks shall call
I us to fight on, or open the way to
peace, there is no doubt we are now
equal to the task OF either war or
peace by carrying oTt the govern
ment's program and definitely break
ing away from the old system"
Electoral Reform.
The imperial chancellor then dis
cussed electoral and parliamentary
reform. He cited bills before the
Reichstag, one OF which enables
members OF the house to enter the
government without resigning and
another proposing a Change in the
laws regarding the responsibility or
the chancellor. He continued:
Deputies win take part in the d.
rection of imperial policy and in the
name Of the chancellor will be re-
sponsible without. ministers. Thus a
new way is opened for arriving at
responsible conduct OF imperial af-
fairs-the parliamentary way.
1--WE are convinced that it will sup
ply, not only the government, but
indirectly, parliament. with precious
forces from the people which have
hitherto not been utilized"
Prince Maximilian said he hoped
soon to announce results Of prelim-
mary negotiations to obtain a legal
extension of the chancelIor's respon-
sibility to be secured by the forn1a-
ton of a state tribunal.
"The new system" he said Elm
wolves as a neutral consequence.
new mode Of government in Alsace
Lorraine.
Reichstag Has War Power.
Announcement was made by the
chancellor OF a bill making the reich
stag responsible for war and peace,
the measure to become effective