Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1919-03-03
GERMAN ASSEMBLY
DISCUSSES FUTURE OF
COLONIAL POSSESSIONS

Weimar. Saturday. March 1.-(By
The Associated Press) Members Of
the German National Assembly rush
ed through several bills at this morn
ing'S session in an effort to get back
to and finish the discussion of the
national constitution. but the depu-
ties again fell a-foui of the transit
ton law bill on which discussion was
deferred yesterday.
The House quickly passed a bill to
shorten the length of election inves-
LEGATIONS which heretofore had been
so choked with red tape, the former
Re!chstag having adjourned before
an investigation was concluded.
\ measure concerning the future
OF the German colonies was spon
sored by the colonial minister. who
declared that President Wilson in his
IA points uneQuivocally had spoken
for justice.
The minister said that Germany
was willing to submit the colonial
question to any impartial and non
partisan commission on the basis OF
President Wilson's IA points. The
speaker protested against the alleged
unjustified charges of Germany's
mistreatment of natives in the Ger
man colonies. He said the accusa-
lions were based on mistakes OF
made with malice. He then proceeded
to laud President Wilson.
The Assembly rapidly passed bills
providing safeguards against none!
going abroad, revising the 1917 law
dealing with foreign securities ana
recurring that manuscript ana PRINT
ed matter and securities ana cash oe
sealed before being sent abroad. Inc
Assembly also adopted a bill to re-
iInhursc the enemy armies in the &C.
cup;cd districts OF Germany.
1T is an oil fight from the point o.
view of commercial people who see
use in fighting only when money is IN
volyed. The same applies 10 the Tes-
chen coal fields For the Czechs II 8 a
coal fight; for US one OF race
1T is evident that the Germans con-
STEER themselves victors on the eastern
front and are planning the economic
domination of Russia by telling arms to
the Bolsheviki. which epidemic Will
cease when it runs its course. Inc
probable end of Russia will be a dicta-
torship, with some other Trotzky, Le-
nine or Hohenzollern type. Your az
vice to us not to fight is good advice loS
a diving man but not for man who
wishes to live and enjoy lbertl We
have to protect certain institutions"
The features of the afternoon session
of the Assembly were a speech by Dr..
Helm. leader of the Bavarian peasant
party, in which he protested against
the continual appeals for the raising o.
their blockade and urged Germany to
do what was possible to feed itself by
little real work, and lively contro-
versy by Emmanuel Wurm. former
food administrator and Herr Bauer. In
dependent Socialist Labor minister.
Or. Helm startled the House by
referring to sabotage being more
pertinent that was the blockade. He
asked:
DO you know how much grain has
gone to waste on account OF strikes
In the meantime we are standing Or
the verge of a precipice. Death by
starvation is facing US.
Undoubtedly the Spartacides vii
live longer but all could live 1t the.
worked. If something comes from
abroad well and good. but let us 40
something ourselves.
Or. Helm continued:
Why cannot the government see
that in the country's interest lnduS-
try must be democratiZed ana so
cialized?"
Herr Bauer said he would not chal-
ienge the good faith of Herr Wurm.
bu, il was a fact that every agree
meen with the strikers had been
broken by the strikers themselves.
Minister Bauer announced that
bill would be presented at an early
date. transferring the coal syndicates
to the government as the first meas
ure of specialization of industry.