THE GERMAN BUDGET

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 248, 8 July 1918, Page 6

THE GERMAN BUDGET

; OPPOSITION OF THE SOCIALISTS £ LACK OF CONFIDENCE IN THE ; GOVERNMENT ; CLEAR PEACE STATEMENT DEMANDED ; _ Amsterdam, 'aly 5. ' There was a heated debate in the Reichstag on the third reading of the Budget, Herr Scheideniann (Socialist) said that Dr.. von Kuhlmann's speech Had not caused surprise. It was well ;■ inown that it represented tho opinion !■' of the Government. Germany must, for ( practical reasons, give the war a defence character. Unfortunately, Dr. von : Kuhlmann had caused the favourable impression of his speech to disappear. The : . fact that ho allowod the military to irii lerfere opened up dismal prospects for ;. <ho nation. The war must be finished as Boon as possible. The Socialists could not go 011 voting money for this Govern- • uient. The lives of millions were at ■',;-. stake.' : . #Tho President called Hevr Ijodebbur to ', order when he declared that the occasion :' r / demanded a revolution. ■ The speeches caused a sensation in the ■■/ ' Reichstag. ;'■ ; Dr."~von Payer, Vice-Chancellor, in : reply, said it.was a good thing the other . parties did not threaten to reject tho '. .■ Budget; otherwise the cause of tho Fatherland would be imperilled in makI ing a fresh peace declaration- in view of i . ih.e reception of past statements; but on • behalf of the Government he accepted 1 Tferr Scheidemann's demand for an hon- ■, 1 ourable peace. He denied that there had 1 been, military interference with the civil : Government. The military could not. at* !. independently in war time, Alutual agrec--1 inent was essential ; Herr Scheidemann agrecd v to co-operate ; ivith tho Government on condition that 1 there was a clear statement on peace, : which would strengthen tho confidence cf the people in the Government.—Aus.1 K.Z. Cable Assn. ' . ■> I