The Dominion. WEDNESDAY,' SEPTEMBER 25, 1918. ANOTHER GERMAN CRISIS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 310, 25 September 1918, Page 4

The Dominion. WEDNESDAY,' SEPTEMBER 25, 1918. ANOTHER GERMAN CRISIS

At its face value a message forwarded yesterday on. tho authority of the Daily Chronicle's correspondent at Amsterdam would point to a highly important development in German public opinion. "A. German political crisis is developing," the correspondent stated, "owing to the recognition by important sections of public opinion that tho Entente Powers' distrust of the Kaiser has made their Governments unlikely to -respond- to any peace overtures coming from the Central Powers." This is a promising statement. If it is hased on reliable information it means that changes arc under way in Germany which tend to bring peace' into nearer prospect. But tho correspondent rather spoils the effect of his own optimistic announcement by adding that many conferences arc. proceeding. Political conferences of the kind that ;ire at present possible in Germany are not likely to do much towards bringing about that radical change in German aims .and policy which the Allied Powers demand as a first essential to peace. Symptoms of popular revolt against the military rulers of Germany would bo better evidence that such a change is in prospect than any number of conferences between German politicians who arc content the most part to play their_ parts in a shadowgraph farce which • affords plenty of scope for animated gesture and even for noisy "effects," but has , little enough practical bearing upon the life and affairs of tho nation. No doubt the military victories of the Allies and the rapid growth of their fighting forces on land and sea and in tho air are tending more'and more_ to sap the endurance and resolution of the- German, armies and people, and it is as little in doubt that their rulers are badly at a loss. At tho same.time there is no real evidence that tho political crisis in Germany which is now commanding some attention can be regarded as the beginning of effective revolt against the military party.' Available facts 'suggest rather that th» present contest is between the extreme'war party and the party which in recent times has found its most prominent representative in von KtiHtiJUNN. There is no doubt that so far as the internal politics of Germany arc concerned the ovcr< whelming defeat, of the German offensive in the Western theatre and the events which are now taking shape in that theateo and in minor theatres have brought a measure f of triumph to von Kuhmiann and those who think with' him. The faction which hounded him out of his position as Foreign Minister because ho publicly declared that the war could' * not ended by a •military decision is now in a desperate quandary, and no doubt is exceedingly vulnerable to any attack that von Kuhi.mann and his supporters care to develop. A crisis based on 'such conditions, however, would have very little in common with one reflecting a genuine and increasing demand by the German people for peace. There is no obvious moral distinction to be drawn between von Kuhxmann and those who share his views and', the uncompromising supporters of a policy of ruthless conquest. The two factions arc to be distingmsed chiefly by a. contrast in methods. Von Kuhlmann is wise enough to perceive the folly of those who demand that the game of blood and iron should be played out to theend, but he is intent on gaining, by more adroit and artful means, much, ths same results 'as the extreme Pan-Germane hops to attain. ,It is possible that the crisis now in evidence is destined to lead up to dramatic changes. It has been suggested that Mackensen may replace Ludendouff, and sinco Ludekdorff more than any other man bears responsibility for the disasters that have lately overtaken German arms this particular change would not be- surprising. It would be as natural in the circumstances if Hertling gave place to von Kuhlmann in the office of Chancellor. If these or equivalent changes arc witnessed it will bo as well to remember that von Kujilmann has been as unscrupulous and as active in forwarding Germany's schemes of conquest and plunder as any of tho leaders now threatened with eclipse. He is the man who imposed merciless terms on Russia and Rumania, and tho possibilities of the situation arc further defined when it is considered that every political party in Germany, with tho exception of the Minority Socialists, has tacitly or expressly approved o| these crimes and of all tho others of which the _ German Government has been guilty. A speech which Scheidemann, tho leader of tho Majority Socialists, made in the licichstag in July throws some light upon the conditions in which the. present crisis has arisen, and is of interest also as suggesting the results to. which it is likely to lead. He sai'd, in part:—

Who is hindering thn Uissolutiou of the Prussian Diet? Who keeps tho stnlo of siege in bninu, although tho flovornment would liko to suspend it? Who uses tho law of preventive arrest in tho vwy opposite mii.sc to its proper function? Who has forbidden the Lillnmniiius to conic to Berlin? Who prescribed in the Press how to expound von ICiililninnn's speech? The High Command did nil this. . . . We demand clarity ou tlio question of pence. T lmyn Raid not a word to oxCHSO the English war of starvation. Bui horrible as it is, there is a sense in it.

And this bomb-throwing is absolutely fionsekss. Even Count Westnrp is preaching tho war of defence, but wlioover wauls Longwy anil Briey imd the Flanders Coast is currying on no war of defence. Tho Government must show its colour, whether it is in favour of the aims of tho Fatherland party or not. If; is obvious that if Scheidsmakn were honest in his professions he would have as little- to do with von Kuhlmann, the unscrupulous negotiator of the Brest Litovsk "peace," as with the "High Command" to which he is allegedly opposed. His actual attitude makes it. not unreasonable to suppose that if von Kuhlmann returned to office he would be> tamely followed by the Socialists as well as by other parties whoso members desire to improve on the methods of tho faction which recognises no weapon but brute force, though they have no quarrel with its aims. On the facts it seems very likely that the present crisis may culminate in the substitution of a Government which will exhaust the possibilities of peace intrigue for that which now obediently obeys tho High Command. A crisis of a very different kind is needed to demonstrate that the, German people arc beginning to realise the true nature- of the tragedy of folly a.nd crime irU, which they have been led by then' present rulers.