POLITICAL CHAOS IN GERMANY

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 100, 27 April 1917, Page 7

POLITICAL CHAOS IN GERMANY

RALLY OF REACTIONARY FORCES

SOCIALIST PEACE PROPOSALS DENOUNCED

(AOSTBAXIAN-NEW. ZKATiJJfD CABLE ASSOCIATION.) ' (Received April 27, 8.30 a.m.)

AMSTERDAM, 26th April. German newspapers disclose a chaotic political situation. While tho Army leaders are boasting of victories on the Western front, the situation in Germany is characterise! by disunion, the rising of class hatred, and unprecedented industrial unrest. The strikes were undoubtedly more serious and prolonged than were admitted, and work has not yet been fully resumed. After a stormy meeting the Reichstag adjourned, despite the Socialists demanding' an immediate debate on home and foreign affairs. Both Socialist groups voted against the Government. It is evident there has been a strong rally.of the reactionary forces, which still intend a peace with annexations and indemnities. The reactionaries exercised euch pressure on the Government that Hen 1 Bethman-Hollweg has been thrown over. Tho Pan-German newspapers angrily denounce the Socialist peace proposals. , , , Professor Schiedmann, the Kaiser's confidential adviser, states: A peace that leaves us without gain of territory, without colonies, would be treason to-. • wards the future of Germany. It will be impossible to bear the load of +»xes if .there are no indemnities." . , Professor Schiedmann angrily denounced the adjournment of the Reichstag and says: " A holy war is being preached against Germany throughout the world, opening prospects of decades of fighting which will end in Ixermanv's total destruction. On the other hand, the Russian revolutioD opens a prospect of a speedy world' peace. This ideal of a Socialist Russian revolution . fills many millions of Germans with great enthusiasm." [A cable message from London on 18th April stated : The Times correspondent at Copenhagen reports that the newspaper Pohtiken announces that representatives of the majority and minority groups of German Socialists.are holding secret meetings with representatives of Russian Socialists, seeking a bMtaaf peace. A Rufsiau Socialist told a representative of the P°Wiken that the Germans proposed to commence a peace campaign in the Reichstag, on the basis of-The evacuation of France. The restoration of Belgian independence without an army. The union of Servia, Montenegro, and the Slav provinces of Austria into a Greater Servia, forming a third unit of Austm-Hun-sarv The independence of Poland without an%,rmy, and the transfer of Rusfknßaltic provinces to Germany. An independent Armenia under Turkish protection. The re-establishment of Rumania. The neutralisation of the Dardanelles under Turkey.] AUTHORS OF STRIKES TO BE PUNISHED (Received April 22, 10.30 a.m.) AMSTERDAM, 26th April. Herr yon Bethmann-Hollweg has instructed the Governors of the Federal States that proceedings will be taken against the authors of the munition strikes. The dishonourable and \perfidious offenders will be subjected to the utmost possible' punishment. GERMAN PEACE PROPAGANDA IN SWITZERLAND (Received April 27, 9.40 a.m.) WASHINGTON, 26th April. The State Department, has been informed that the Germans have formed a committee in Switzerland ■to propagate Republicanism, and work for peace. Herr Meyer/a former editor of the Berlin Morgenpost, is believed to be From other sources the State Department learns that the Germans are increasingly anxious'for peace. The bread rations have been reduced, rhe strike of 250,000 labourers in Berlin is really an anti-war move..