AN ANGRY SCENE IN THE REICHSTAG.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1925, 6 December 1913, Page 5

AN ANGRY SCENE IN THE REICHSTAG.

EVENTS AT ZABERN HOTLY DEBATED CHAMBER SEETHING WITH INDIGNATION. CHANCELLOR'S STATEMENT VOTED UNSATISFACTORY. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright Berlin, December -I. Tho Chancellor (Herr Pethmaiin liollweg), with the Statthaltor of Alsace and the Commander of the Alsacian troops, were summoned to Dofiaucschingen to confer with the Kaiser on the situation. Tho Chancellor, on resuming the debate iu the Reichstag l , spoke in a tone of protest and anger not heard from him since tho Morocco debate, and was frequently obliged to pnuso until the Presidential bell quieted the interrupters. He passionately appealed to the people of Alsace to co-operate in the restoration of good feeling. Tho Kaiser, ho said, desired tho civil and military authorities to co-operate in observing tho full respect of tlio law. The moment was serious, not becauso of tho censure which it possibly carried, but because, owing to tho general condition and excitement, a dangerous cleft was lorming between the people and the arniv.

The Ivaiser, lie continued, vigorously disapproved of tho military authorities' excesses at Zabern, and rigidly o'rdcred them not to sow dissension among tho army and the people. Tho speaker fully- recognised tho sacrednoSs of civil law, and those who had exceeded it would be niado to suffer. Tho sitting of tho Reichstag was one of the most tempestuous in its history. Fully one-half of the Chamber was seething with indignation against tho Government, whoso declarations aro regarded as proof that the Kaiser identified himself with the military instead of civilian view. The Reichstag, by 2Ki votes to 54, carried a Radical motion expressing dissatisfaction at Ilcrr Yon Bothmanu Hollwcg's statement. 'lho "Daily Mirror's" (-representative was arrested at Zabern for attempting to photograph an officer. He was released within a quarter of an hour.

WILL THE CHANCELLOR RESICN? POLITICAL CRISIS LOOMING. (Rec. December 5, 10.5 p.m.) Berlin, December 5. Germany's efforts to assimilate Alsaeo (which was taken from Franco in tho war of 1870), have oscillated, between severity and kinduefis. Latterly, under Count Von Wedel, kindness predominated. Count Von Wedel ■ co-operated with Herr Von Bethmaim Ilollwcg (tho Imperial Chancellor) in framing the Constitution. 'ihe Zubcrij crisis commenced by Lieutenant Foerstner, on tiro parade ground and in tho presence of Alsatian recruits, describing tlio-Alsiitiaui as "*raokes" (an objectionable epithet applied to tho Foreign Legion),'and offering ten shillings for every "Alsatian vagabond" arrested. When tho public demanded the punishment of tho offender, tho military authorities .merely arrested thirty recfuits for divulging what had'happened, and these recruits are now awaiting eouirt-niartial. '«. • The general officer commanding in tho province of Alsace is Von Doimlisig, who aroused an uproar in the Reichstag a few years ago by declaring that as an officer ho didn't care what members thought or did. At present the Reichstag is irritated because Herr Von Bcthmann Hollwcg never quoted. Count Wedcl's' reports, but- always General Von Deimlings's. Tho Kaiser lias now. summoned" Count Wedel and General Von Deimlmg. ' Tim magnitude of tlm hostile majority vote has made a deep impression on tho. public. It is reported that ' Herr Von IJethmaiiu llollweg's resignation. depends upon whether tho Kaiser decides in favour of Count Wedel, for, if the latter resigns, the Chancellor will go also; if the Kaiser decides that both tho civil and military authorities aro equally at fault, Herr Von Bcthmann Ilollwcg will remain. Tho Houso was less excited • to-day than was tlio case on Wednesday, recognising Herr Von Bothniaim HoSlweg's desiro to remove tlio impression created by his War Minister's (Herr Voii Heeriugen) maladroit, speeches. Tlio Chancellor indignantly denied capitulating to tlio Emperor's military Cabinet, which did not exist. He was constantly interrupted, and finished amid hisses. Tho Soeial-De.mocrnts, Radicals, Catholics, and National Liberals supported tho censure motion. Only tho Prussian Conservatives voted with tho Government.