THE NEW GERMAN CONSTITUTION

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 102, 24 January 1919, Page 5

THE NEW GERMAN CONSTITUTION

PRIVILEGES OF BIRTH ABOLISHED

COMPOSITION OF THE

REICHSTAG

MINISTERS TO BE APPOINTED BY

THE PRESIDENT

By TcleeraDh-Preßs A?Boclation-Ooßyrißht; (Rec. January 23, 9.15 p.m.) '' Berne, January 21. The following are tho cliief points of the draft new German Constitution,: which has been issued from Berlin:— , The 'Empire comprises the 'present ; States and those seeking admission on; the basis of self-determination. : Foreign affairs, banks, exchanges,: labour and land legislation, and aviation are among Imperial matters. All Germans have rights before the law: All privileges and advantages of birth, social. condition, or creed are abolished.

A clause referring to religious freedom stipulates'that none may be com.pelled to'make known his or her religions convictions.

The present distribution of landed property shall hu modified by a wide process of hovr.e Tikmisatioii. Details are not given.

No legislation shall be permitted against'foreign languages spoken within .the Empire. ; . . ~ The Reichstag shall be composed oF two Chambers—namely, -.the people's and the States' In principle, there shall be one deputy to overy million inhabitants./ No one may ,be -a member of both Chambers simultaneously. The legislative mandate :for'both Chambers shall be three years.-

The President. of' the Empire shall be .elected by the whole German people for a term of seven years, .and shall be eligible for re-election.. -He ; shall represent the . Empire ..internationally, aippoint diplomatists, and hare power to declare war.in :accordauce-with the laws of the Empire. The Reichstag must approve of "foreign treaties.

The Government of the 'Empirn shall he composed of a'Chancellor and Ministers, all of -whom shall be appointed ■by the ChanreHorf. and /Ministers 3hould retire if tho Chamber definitely .votes no confidence in them. —Reuter.

THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY ELECTIONS

CRec. January 23, 9.35' p.in.), ( London, January 21. The '!Dailv Telegraph's" JJorliu correspondent, writing on Sunday, said: "The polling is proceeding without ■■trouble. There is feverish excitement in political circles. It is difficult to forecast , the -result, but -I ■Bα; inclined to .believe that the Liberals and the Majority Socialists will'.carry the day, jiossibly 'by.only a small majority. '.Tic polling booths are generally established in • publichouses and kiuema palaces. The polling begau 'at 9 o'clock-in.the morning,' when queues were . already waiting. Later an armed soldier was posted at i every booth, land r.iachineguns and field-guns were 'placed at .strategic points, where disturbances! were'likely."—Aus.-NjZ, Cable Assn. HEAVY POLIIn-BERLIN 1 . (Req. January 23, 9.35 p.m.) .London, January 31. The "Daily Chronicle's" Amsterdam correspondent states: "Oat of 1,400,000 .electors in Berlin, 1,200,000 voted. ■ A picturesque .incident was a procession of Sisters of the Cathalio Lyceum marching to register their votes. '.The Spartacists in Hamburg burned-.a , number of ballot-boxes, stole the boxes at Dinstaken, arid attempted to prevent voting at Kattwitz.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. THE SPARTACISTS ACTIVE. (Rec. January 23, 9.35 p.m.) London, January :21. A German wireless that the Spartacists are actire in Rhineland, also : at'Hamburg and other: ports. They frequently stopped the elections. A sharp conflict at Hamburg with police in motor-cars. and armed with machine-guns is reported. .There were several killed and wounded.—Aus.-N'.Z. Cable Assn.