The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1919-02-13
PROVIDE FOR
A REFERENDUM
German National Assembly
Adopts Ten1porary Con-
stitutIon.
PRIN NCIPAL FEATURES
Presidents Military and Civic
Orders Must Be Counter
signed by Cabinet.
RINCIPALF FEATURES

Weimar, Feb. IL. via london. Feb.
1s.-war declarations require "spe-
cial legislation" Under the terms of
the temporary constitution which has
just been adopted by the German ma
tional assembly.
Entrance of Germany into the pro-
posed league of nations must have
the combined sanction of the national
assembly and the state committee
representing the various states max
ing up Germany.
The president retains Office until
his successor is elected by the ma
tional assembly, and the assembly
will have the power to vote on its
confidence in the cabinot SyhsR grave
matters arc~at stakes he aftnet
will have supreme control of the army
and navy.
The following is synopsis Of the
temporary constitution as it was
amended before it's approval Mon
day:
/. The assembly's object Is to
adopt a permanent constitution and
national laws.
2. The governments proposals to
the assembly require the sanction of
committee representing the sew
eral free states. This committee Is
headed by government member
from each state, the members from
the larger states being apportioned
to one vote for each 100000 inhab-
itants: however, no state may have
a membership bigger than one-third
of the total membership of the COM
mittee.
3. The committee is entitled to
address the assembly at any time.
4. The assembly will adopt fu-
ture constitution. but the territory of
the free states shall not be changed
except with the consent of the in
terested state. Laws will be adopted
and may be referred to a referendum
vote by the president, if a disagree
ment arises.
5. Unimportant points are referred
to the old German constitution.
6. The president will conduct the
affairs with authority to
represent Germany in matters of In
ternational law. He will sign foreign
treaties on behalf of the republic and
receive ambassadors. but each dec
of war and each peace treaty
requires special legislation.
Foreign treaties require the COM
bined sanction of the assembly and
the state committee, including agree
ments with countries in the proposed
league of nations.
Z. The assembly appoints the
cabinet which will control the SUI
preme command of the army and
navy. The members of the cabinet
must have the confidence of the as
sembly.
s. The president appoints the cab
net which will control the supreme
of the army and navy. The
members of the cabinet must have
he confidence of the assembly.
Amendments.
(Sub. No. 7. The assembly will |
elect president with an absolute |
and the president retains |
office until his successor is elected |
lpon the basis of a permanent con-
9. The presidents military and !
,ivil orders are not valid unless coun- !
.ersigned by the cabinet and the cab
net is responsible for them to the |
10. The temporary constitution is |
Immediately upon its adop- |
ion.
II will be noted that the cable
yram used the word republic" in de-
ailing the sixth clause of the tenn
,orary constitution. although the as
'embly had apparently agreed to |
lave Germany officially known as an
umpire under the new government.
All political parties have united in
he formation of committee which
ramed a world appeal for the re-
,atriation of German prisoners.
The delegates who came from AL
ace and Lorraine have petitioned for
eats in the assembly, arguing that
hey are rightfullv representatives of
he German empire and were enti-
led to participate in the making Of
he constitution. They demand the
light of self determination.
No elections were held in Aisace
nd Lorraine for the choosing of DEL
gates to the German national as
emily. The delegation now In Wei
mar is made up of German residents
4 those provinces who went TO Wei
mar voluntarily and with no author
~.