The Dominion MONDAY, JULY 9, 1917.

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3131, 9 July 1917, Page 4

The Dominion MONDAY, JULY 9, 1917.

SHAM REFORM IN GERMANY

. "Messages >which deal to-day with , the-question of constitutional reform ' in Germany are so contradictory , that they would be puzzling if the j fact Were not well established that ( the German Government is as , double-faced in matters of internal ] politics as it is in most . other 'things. The true inclination of the | German autocracy appears in the ■ action of the Chancellor in reference ■ to the reform proposals of the Constitutional Committee of* the Beichstag. At his demand the party leaders in that Chamber have agreed to shelve the proposals with the exception of a trifling measure of addi- , tional representation to some of the larger constituencies. Electoral district boundaries in the German Emhave never been altered since I.SVI, although there has since been an enormous growth of population in the cities. The Chancellor's concession is of microscopic proportions. Very probably, however, the Government which thus stands definitely opposed to reform, is at the same time doing everything in its power to encourage a belief abroad, and particularly in the countries with which Germany is at war, that ■ large reforms are in prospect. On their past record the National Liberals and the Socialists, who are said to be pressing for immediate ■electoral reforms, are quite capable of lending themselves to such a, design. As to the manifesto issued by leading Conservative professors in Germany which urges the immediate passage of legislation establishing "a general, direct, and secret equal franchise," it is obviously open to #ic' deepest suspicion. There is not the. slightest reason for believing "that the'authors of the document are sincere in advocating such a revolutionary change. There is every reason to believe- that they are acting in the interests of German autocracy, and aim at misleading public opinion at home and abroad. The last-mentioned object is probably regarded as the most important. The men who wield power in Germany are well aware that democratic internal reforms woijd place her in a much more favourable position to treat with theEntente. In a*recent speech which in essentials echoed earlier utterances by President Wilson, Mr. Lloyd George declared that the Allies would enter into negotiations with a democratised Germany in an entirety different spirit, attitude, and temper than must he maintained towards a Germany dominated by the aggressive and arrogant spirit of Prussian militarism. The ends of the German autocrats would be best served if, while denying all domestic reforms, they could inspire a belief in Entente countries that sweeping political reforms in Germany are bound to follow the cessation of hostilities. Efforts have been, made to this end, but they seem most unlikely to succeed. 1 ossi'bly the next step may be to resort to an art practised, and in his later days expounded, by Bismarck—that of making sham domestic concessions in time of war, and paying temporary "blackmail" to the "libertymongers," in the confident belief that when the immediate object has berm •rained the- "damage" done by the concessions can be repaired. In Bismarck's case- the immediate object was victory. Now it is an inconclusive peace, Well-informed observers are of opinion that the presentdav German autocrats are not by anv means unmindful of Bismarck s nolitical strategy. For instance, a, Swiss newspaper, the GnzeMe.de. lanwnne, recently credited the Gorman Government with an intention of promoting a sham revolution., in the hone of in that"w.ay obtaining better terms. We learn from a source that ia[generally trustworthy (it remarked) that the Germane on their part contemplate the possibility of haying recourse to the stratagem of a pseudo-revolution, it has, wo ar e informed, boon decided in ugh quarters to excite the pity of he Allies, and to induce them to conclude an 'illusive- peaco bv simulating an intention to introduce a" regime of democratic Libernlism in Germany. The supreme head of the Stat* has been induced to promise temporary reforms of eo radical a nature that the Allies could not help being impressed bv them. This metamorphosis of Germany would, of course last only until a favourable pence has been concluded '\s the memorv of the war faded. Prussia would gradually revert to the old state of affairs, but the aim won Id have been achieved, and Germany would linvo Keen saved by ephemeral concessions. Wβ are assured that German agents aro working actively and cleverly in tho interests of tho propagation of this great German plan. TAero are features in the news to-

day which suggest that the plan i<; taking shape, fortunately the Allies are so Well warned that they arc notlikcly to be deceived by German political trickery. Even in Russia the party that might have been deceived appears to be dwindling. On the other hand, anything in the nature of a sham revolution is likely to be a distinctly perilous venture for the Kaiseh and his junkers. Unless the people, of Germany are dead to all initiative the German autocrats are sitting on a mine, and the agitation of a sham revolution might precipitate a real explosion. It is reasonably certain that there is no way short of revolution in which the German people can obtain political liberty.