The Daily News. SATURDAY, JULY 21, 1917. HERR HOLLWEG'S FALL.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 July 1917, Page 4

The Daily News. SATURDAY, JULY 21, 1917. HERR HOLLWEG'S FALL.

It is impossible to form an accurate estimate of the recent German political move which culminated in the downfall of the Chancellor, Herr von Bethmann Hollweg. In any other country but Germany the true import of events could fee estimated without difficulty, but in Germany's case the usual process of deduction is useless because the system of deception there is so elaborate. Apparently the revolt of the Centre and the Socialists has .borne fruit, and the Reichstag has, for the time being at least, .become quasi-democratic, inasmuch as it has asserted its right to control the administration. Even that step is a great stride for such an autocratic ruled country, and it may be that the success will be the forerunner of a great change, though it would not be wise to build any hopes in this direction. Intense cunning has always been the conspicuous feature of German statecraft, and wc cannot forget that it has been brought home to the German ruling class that any and every hope of peace depends- on the democratising of the nation. To bow to that decision in order to obtain the peace for which the Central Powers are so intensely yearning, 'Would only (be an astute move! It may be taken for granted that the Chancellor's fall indicates the existence of considerable discontent, and that with his departure from office there is an end to the policy with which he has been identified—tne Pan-German insistence on annexations and indemnities. As the Kaiser could alone dismiss the Chancellor, the question arises as to why so highly a favored and trusted Minister, who championed Germany's most ambitious schemes, should have been dropped like the old pilot Bismarck, when his services were of such great use to the house of Hohenzollern. It would be a remarkable coincidence if the Kaiser, who signalised his sovereignity by discarding (Bismarck, should end his reign with the dismissal of Bollweg. . Undoubtedly there has been great pressure brought to bear by the Centre and Socialist parties in the Reichstag, just as there was in MOD when, by an alliance with the Conservatives and the Poles, the Centre brought about the downfall of Prince Bulow. It may be that the Kaiser is reading the writing on the wall and has so engineered current feelings that he can claim that Germany has been democratised, and he can imply, for the purpose of detaching the Russians and possibly America, that the way is open for a peace without annexations or indemnities. Then Germany would merely bide her time and again prepare for a war in comparisan with which the present struggle would be a mere circumstance. As the leader of the Centre is said to have 'declared in favor of such a peace there seems to bo some ground for belief that the majority of the people's representatives are prepared to endorse this policy. At the same time it is difficult to account for,the Chancellorship having been conferred on such a nonentity as Dr. Michaelis. Such a step, is certainly to be regarded with suspicion, for it seems to be nothing less than a piece of scheming designed to deceive the outside world. At last there appears to be an awakening, especially in South Germany, to the fact that the war is being carried on in order to satisfy the lust of the Prussian Junkers. Herr Hollweg devoted his best efforts towards ensuring the cohesion of the various parties in the Reichstag so as to have the semblance of a united front, even towards the most disgraceful acts of barbarism perpetrated during the war and always stimulated the cry of "Germany Over All." He has fulfilled his task with an ability that commands due recognition however much we may detest the methods used. The Kaiser's fertile crop of promises is by no means exhausted, nor does his prodigality in this respect seriously encroach on the stock. There is, however, one great fact that the Kaiser and his people must not forget—the Allies will accept no promise whatever. They have determined to put it out of the power of Germany in future to disturb the world's peace, and the guarantees they will require are such as can only be obtained by a victorious issue ofthe war and the dictation of such terms of .peace as will ensure their determination being carried out. If Hen- Hollweg's fall really marks the collapse of his policy, the end of the war is appreciably nearer than during his sway, but under no circumstances can our efforts be relaxed until the final victory is won.

['Since the above was written the Centre Farty have backed down and confessed that their action 'was only a manoeuvre to end the crisis.]