GERMANY.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 December 1918, Page 5

GERMANY.

SECRET DOCUMENTS. E32STENCE, OP CROWN COUNCIL DENIED. ' Copenhagen, Dec. 16. Berlin advices say that Herr ifaase, Minister for Foreign Affairs, spates that secret documents in the German Foreign Office do not confirm the existence of a secret Crown Council at Potsdam. The first portion of the documents dealing with events to the German invasion oc Belgium will be published shortly.—Aus. NX Cable Assoc

SOCIALIST LEADER'S WITHDRAWAL ECONOMIC SITUATION Berne, Dec. 16. Herr Ledebour lias withdrawn from the Independent Socialist Party, disagreeing with the party's attitude towards the German Cabinet.—Aws. KZ. Cable Assoc. London, Sec. 16. The Dally News correspondent interviewed Herr Ebert at Berlin. Herr Ebert said the only fatal menace of tlie situation was the economic one. If.that wag avoided Germany ,would do well enough. There was no fear of the restoration of monarchy, owing to the Kaiser's flight tearing out the system by the roots. There was no intention to establish a dictatorship. The Government would ask the nation to formulate its will as soon as technically possible. Socialists now admit that the German j rulers were responsible for the war, though they did not know it at that time, and anyhow could not disown their country when it ' was a question of swimming or sinking.—Aub. N.Z. Cable Assoc. An Amsterdam message states that striken are spreading in Berlin. Two hundred and fifty thousand workers are out. Amsterdam, Dec. 16. ! Berlin advice 9 state that the Workers' Council at Berlin elected 7 Majority Socialists, 5 Independents, and 1 Intellectual as delegates to the Imperial Conference of Soviets. The Soldiers' Councils at Berlin elected 4 Majority Socialists and 2 Independents, and unanimously protested against the summoning of the Reichstag as treason, and demanded that the President of the Reichstag be called to account. —Aus. N.Z Cable Assoc. AN OMINOUS CALM. EXTREMIST INFLUENCE SPREADING. Efloeirtd Dec. 17, 5.5 p.m. Amsterdam, Dec. 16. Though during the past week Germany has been calmer, the general situation is anxious. The comparative tranquility arises 'from fatigue. The elections aliow„ that the extremists will fail to secure a substantial support from the masses of the people. Thus the movement for an early National Assembly gains force. It is unlikely that the reassembly of tho Reichstag will improve matters, owing to association with the old regime and because based on ait antiquated franchise. The Government is doing the most U possibly can to convoke the Assembly, bat lacks firmness in handling the economic cituation. Some of Berlin's largest stores and several leading newspapers have been brought to a standstill by strikes. Berlin's confusion strengthens the separatist tendencies in the west and south. Dr. Liebknecht reigns supreme in Berlin- suburbs and Neukouln, a,nd practically manages his own affairs. Tho position in other suburbs is much the same. Dr. Liebknecht opened a so-called Soldiers' Bureau at Neukouln, which is really a recruiting office for a Bolshevist amy. The Liebknecht influence is spreading and advice of a general strike is being gradually accepted all over the country. Fifty-four thousand Btruck at Siemenstadt, near Berlin, Liebknecht attacks the Government with increasing violence, and says a secret treaty with tho Entente exists, requiring Germany to immediately disavow the Soviets, Herr Fehrenbach's convocation-of the Reichstag fell like a thunderbolt. Herr Ebert denies the Entente's dissatisfaction, and -points out that the Reichstag Federal Council has ceased to exist. Received Detf. 17, 5.5 p.m.

Copenhagenj Dec. 16. The Vorwaerts states that Dr. Liebknecht may be suffering fitom moral insanity like the N;Z. Cable Assoc, and Router. ';

FAITHFUL TO REPUBLIC. INTENTIONS OF GUARDS REGIMENTS., Received Dec. 17, 5.5 p.m. London, Dec. 10. • Advices from Berlin state that the j Quanta Regiments announce that they j intend to remain faithful, to the republic, but will not allow themselves to be usid by party factions or menaced and insulted by th# armed rabble. They are willing to maintain order and disarm the unruly elements.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc. and Reuter. Copenhagen, Dec. 10. A new Seamen's Council has been formed at Hamburg. It demands control of the entire mercantile marine and threatens to sink every ship unless aJ! its demands are met. farther rioting is reported at Hambun owing to the British refusing to wtotiata with the Seamen's Council. It it reported from Kiel that Admiral Bromine has intimated that Germany must be prepartd for a British tion or Heligoland unless the naval terms ol the armistice are carried out. BEHAVIOUR OF GROWN PRINCE. Amsterdam, Dec. 15. Residents of Wieringen angrily demonstrated outside the . prince's hon»e owing to his asaoowe brine • lady visitor from Amsterdamof Wtefagen t. - —iT.t the ex-Crown Princes am Asm > -

THE CROWN PRINCE. XOT; WASTED IN CERMAKY,IN ANY OAPACITYjj Received Doc. IS, 1.50 a.m. Co&enhagen, Deo Id The Deutsche Zeiiuog says that riw Grown l'rince, at the outbreak of the re* Volution, asked, permission to remain i® the army as a general, but the request wag refused. He then offered to remain aa' a private, hut this was also rejected The Crown Prince HfttJly decided to go to Holland, after being forbidden to join his family ns a civilian.—Router,