The Dominion SATURDAY, MAY 19, 1917. POLITICAL EVENTS IN GERMANY

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3088, 19 May 1917, Page 6

The Dominion SATURDAY, MAY 19, 1917. POLITICAL EVENTS IN GERMANY

. A Danish estimate of the German 'political situation, which is cabled to-day, probably does rathor more than'justice to tho resolution of the German people, and credits the Imperial Chancellor with a more decided triumph over his opponents than ho has actually won. It is safe to dismiss the picture of a rehabilitated Chancellor leading a united peoplo ready to fight to the uttermost before admitting defeat as exaggerated and misleading. Developing popular unrest in Germany, though it has not yet gathered effective head, remains a factor to bo reckoned with, and it may be taken for granted, also, that the ran-German extremists! who aro devoted to the Chancellor's overthrow have not fired their last shot. In the lighfr of visiblo evidonco the Danish estimate calls for some modification. The fact seems to be well established) however, that Germany has emerged from a season of Eomewhat acuto political crisis in a slate which makes her as dangerous an enemy as is possible at the stage now reached in the war. The Chancellor's command of the situation is likely to be tested again, and more severely, in the not very cfMant future. But it does not seem to be in' doubt that he has for the time foiled "his enemies and' defeated one of the most determined attempts they have yet mado to procure his downfall. At tho same timo the more important fact obtrudes that an embittered political contest lias been fought to a dofinite issue without any pur-poseful-attempt by the mass of the German people to intervene. Late evonts aro not of a character to encourage the hope of an early revolution in Germany. They help instead to emphasise tho fact that the issue of autocracy versus tho people is not yot definitely raised/' The Chancellor's immediate success over subtle opponents like Prince Bulow and noisy critics like Count Reventlow was no doubt materially ussisled by the extravagance of recent Pau-Qerman propaganda. Of late, tho bolder spirits of the party have sono to extraordinary oxtremes in developing tho doctrine of annexation and indemnities—their programme, for instance, includes "the seizure of Calais"—and such ideas aro no longer as potent lo charm as they were in the days when the German people believed they we're destined to conquer Europe. There are Indications also that Bethmann-Homaveg has gained support on account of a widespread and sedulously-fostered belief that ho is more likely than any of_his opponents to retain Austria in German leading-strings. A month or two ago supporters of tho Chancellor's policy exerted themselves to give wide publicity lo tho war aims of Count Tisza. the Hungarian Prime Minister. In a speech delivered on February 21, Count Tisza said: —

Vie wage this war because wo must wage it to safeguard our lives, which aro tbo object of attack. Wo shall continue to wage it against everybody and in all circumstances 'as long as is necessary, but not a, minute longer, to save our life and to ensure our continued existence. Neither wo nor any of our allies have any other aim than the safeguarding of our lives and the conclusion of peace, of a Listing peace, that involves neither' the humiliation of any belligerent nor prejudice to his vital interests.

A- strong family resemblance will he noted betwen this string of hypocritical platitudes and the latest public utterance of tho Chancellor. BethmaUn-Holuveg's • supporters contended that in the; statement quoted and others of a similar cast Count Tisza spoke not merely for the Hungarian Government but ako in the name of the Austro-Hun-garian Government. The Frankfurter Zeiluntj, a forvent supporter of the Chancellor, asserted in a long leading article- that Count Tisz.\ had said only what had been proclaimed from the'outset by the responsible men of tho German Empire, notably by the Emperor and by the Chancellor, and denounced "the foreign lie," that there is an Empiro extending from Hamburg'to Bagdad under Gorman rule.

The contention that the present German Government is in harmonious agreement with .Germany's allies may be devoid of- truth, but the

suggestion that a Chancellor of extreme- Pan-Gorman views would be likely to endanger or disrupt, the Quadruple- Alliance no doubt had something to do with enabling Bethmann-Hollweg to weather the latest storm and retain his post at the heart of affairs in Germany. , Tho outcome of tho crisis, at all events, has been to give him a new leaso of power, a,nd this undoubtedly means tbat Germany is still as dangerous an enemy as her remaining resources will permit her to he. Popular revolt against tho autocratic regime in Germany would bring the end of the war and a stable peace into sight. If the extreme Pan-Germans succeeded in establishing their own .nominee at tho head of the Government, the same result might be indirectly promoted. But so long as BethmannHolmveg remains in office., a definite indication is-afforded that.the German nation has not vet purged tho spirit which Blunged Europe into war. Under his sway, the spirit of Prußsianism, if not rampant, is still dominant. At an immediate view, ho is a compromise Minister, abused and condemned from all .sides as an incompetent blunderer arid balancer. But while he holds an ill-defined place amongst the actively warring political sects in Germany, ho is unyielding in his opposition to the internal reforms which would he a first step towards enabling her to regain the status of a law-abiding nation. His retention is above all significant as indicating that tho German people are still submissive to the autocracy which is leading , them to ruin. How long this state of mind will last it is,hard to say. Tho German people, as information stands, are submissively bearing terrible trials in the firm belief that tho war will soon be terminated in their favour. Tho day of disillusionment will come, but while this state of mind, and this belief, endure it would be mere folly to oxpect Germany to agree to any other peace than one containing tho germ of a future and cvon more terrible war than is I now-being waged. Existing condiI'tions in Germany are of a nature to stiffen the determination of tho Allied Powers. In particular they should assist to dissipate the objections raised'by visionary extremists "in -RuEfiia to the adoption of a sane and repoluto war_ policy, making for a stable and lasting peace.