THE CHANCELLORSHIP

Nelson Evening Mail, 14 May 1917, Page 5

THE CHANCELLORSHIP

COUNT REVENTLOWS VIEWS. (Published in The Times.) . (Rec. May 14, 9.15 a.m.) NEW YD RK, May 13, The Times' Hague correspondent quotes Count - Reventlow in the . Tages Zeitung as follows: "I learn that Dr Hollweg has stated, that if he resigns, Count Bernstorff will succeed r him. Count Bernstorff recently had • lengthy conference"with the Kaiser. It' is Df' Bethmann Hollweg's intention to threaten the Junkers and' reactionaries with-'the possibility of getting a more democratic Chancellor." i i GERMANY'S ISOLATION. ; (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) AMSTERDAM, May 12. The German Post Office announces the stoppage of mail services to Spain, Mexico, Central America, China, and Siam, owing to the impossibility of securing safe connections.. Thus Germany is isolated from the whole world except her'' Allies, Scandinavia, Holland,'and. Switzerland. "" .. ' j

In view of the alleged resignation of Dr von Bethmann Hollweg from the German Chancellorship it is interesting to recall the circumstances of his conversion to ruthless submarining. In March and May of 1916, Dr Hollwegbitterly pjiposed this form of frightfulness, and in September of the same year he declared that the subject was not ripe for discussion.. Yet at the end of January of this year he suddenly announced his conversion,: to submarine ruthleseness. His reason for this changed attitude, as explained to the Reichstag, are enlightening. "When the most ruthless methods are Considered the best like.j ly to lead us to victory, and to a swifjfc victory," he said, "then'they' must 'be employed." "Surely," says the London Daily' Telegraph, ""this is the most brazen declaration of which history holds any record. Prussianism has gone j mad ; it'threatens to involve humanity in its own destruction, and Di* Hollweg

says that violence of the most outrageous character shortens war and is there- '; fore not merely permissible but necest sary and commendable. Apparently no j price is too high to pay for a German j peace." It is impossible to say what is t the significance of this political change, jif indeed.it is faking place,. but in view of the belief held by many'that Hollwegg is little, more than',the mouthpiece of Hindenburg, it is interesting to' ; re~ ' call that there has been *a. tendency in , Germany of late to find -fault even with . the great national Gernian idol- himself..