Evening star., 1922-04-02
BISMARCK SC0RNED
FOES IN RE|CHSTAG
Utter Contempt for ParlIa-
mentary System of His,Day
Shown in. Letters.
DISPUTED ALL DEMANDS
"Not Obliged to Give Accounting
of Stewardship" His Reply.
Scored All Opposition.
By the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press ..,
BERLIN, April 1.--Bismarck's con-
tempt for the. parliamentary system,
even in the diluted form in which 1t
was tolerated in the early days OF
the empire, finds picturesque express
sion in parts of hitherto unpublished
personal letters addressed by tho
Iron Chancellor to Gen. Bronsart Won
'ScheIlendorf, Prussian minister OF
war, the originals Of which have been
placed at the disposal of the AS
ISOLATED Press. g.
The letters were written at Fried
richsruh, the chancellor's rural re-
treat near Hamburg, during the hol-
iday season of 1886. They were
prompted by pending military mea-
sures, for which the government, re-
Quired the reichstag'S approval. tlne
of tho issues concerned was n bill
establishing the armys peace
strength of ASS. 400 men. Another dealt
with an investigation of the merlts
of the eight millimeter rifle over a
larger Gathered gun. Gen. Bronsar!
was Obliged to carry on prolonged
negotiations with the reichstaG's
committees, and reported their prog
ress to the chancellor.
Advice to General.
, Bismarck's comment on the obstruc-
tional tactics employed by the oppo-
sition bloc. which then comprised the
clericais, liberals and socialists. and
his impressions regarding military
measures and the prospect of another
war accompany suggestions to Gen.
Bronsart for BronSartS negotiations
with the reichstag leaders.
ITO assume that our opponents
themselves believe the very things OF
which they accuse US is hardly ex-
wrote to Gen. Bronsart AT the same
time the governments attitude should
not conceal the fact that it declines
to take this exhibition of parlia-
mentary theatricalism seriously and
that it is quite conscious of the lack
of sincerity shown by it's opponents.
Bismarck gave suggestions to Bron-
sart in connection with his dealings
with the obstreperous party leaders
He was strongly opposed to hobnob-
bing with the parliamentarians
Avoids Any Assumption.
"If we associate with them init
mately," the chancellor warns Bron-
sart, mot only will the public at large
but the imposters themselves receive
the impression that we are according
them q measure of confidence. Such
an assumption would only serve to
make them yet moro impudent."
In another letter Bismarck disputes
the reichstag's demand that foreign
relations should be debated in plenary
sessions.
Our constitution" he says, docs
not oblige us to give the reichstag or
its committees an accounting Of our
stewardship for the nations foreign
affairs. This concession would create
al yr4
ser IS answe rable to parliament. 1t
may occa sionally be desirable to have
foreign issues discussed in open ses-
sion with the purpose of inspiring
political reaction abroad, but the
reichstag, as such, is not entitled to
demand such a privilege, and our con-
-stitution does not accord 1t compe-
tency in this direction, If we make a
practice of initiating it into a running
status of our foreign relations policies
we are liable to create precedent
which eventually will tend to obscure
the rights of the crown"
Must Not Assume Sincerity.
The chancellor makes specific refer
ence in a letter dated December IA,
1886, to the clerical and liberal party
leaders, Windhorst and Richter. I'VE
must not assume that these gentlemen
are sincere collaboratorS in the affairs
of state; Consequently, respectful
treatment of them would only in
crease their PRESTIGE" is tho chancel-
lor's final warning to Gen. Bronsart
with regard to them.
Since the time Of Bismarck parlia-
mentary etiquette in Germany has
changed radically. The system as now
praoticed virtually puts the chancellor
at the beck and call of the political
leaders, who are literally privileged
to prescribe the rules of his official
conduct.