GRAVE POLITICAL CRISIS IN GERMANY.

North Otago Times, Volume CV, Issue 13933, 16 July 1917, Page 6

GRAVE POLITICAL CRISIS IN GERMANY.

HtijVr -jiH e " PUBLIC OPINION DEMANDS- POLITICAL REFORM. | KAISER BOWS-TO POLITICAL' REFORMERS.. . ■ " >v .. Hi/ii '• . ttU . !-f ■ Außtralia.i and New Zealand Cable Association,) ■ AMSTERDAM, July 13. , ■' Telegrams from Berlin: leave it still doubtful whether Dr jvon ; Bethmann-Hollweg has been dismissed.-: - i '■ ■ - The majority of the Reichstag do not object to I)r von Beth-mann-Hollweg's remaining in.office if their claims are fully satisfied. Thus far the Chancellor has only capitulated on oiie'subject, that of the suffrage. The Kaiser' has issued 'a Purssia electoral reforms, to the consternation of the Pan-German Conservatives, who believe that the CroWn Prince's..recall-Avould result in an aggressive pan-German Conservative ' being installed in' the Chancellorship. It is now cvident'tliat the Kaiser and the Crown Prince have been forced to surrender to popular opinion: ''.".. There are many protests in the newspapers to the effect 'that the political reforms must not 'be- considered- the result of. Lloyd George's speeches, but to aimajority inrtlie Reichstag bringing, pres- ' sure to bear on the Government by threatening to refuser to-pass ' war credits of 750,000,000 madcS uiitil the reforms were-granted. (Australian and New Zealand Cable' Association,) : \ LGIYDON, juiy 13. The Berliner Tageblatt states.,that Monday's .Crmvn, Council lasted three hours. The< Kaisbr, whowas presiding,'masked that all present give their opinions on Prussian suffrage. , Dr von Bethmann-Hollweg advocated immediate reform''and lii's'" speech created' a deep, impression." ■ v ' • After the Council,: the Kaiser and his -Ministers remained at Dr'vpiv^etlunanii-HolJweg's palace until after midnight. Berne messages express astonishment.at,the..activity of 1 the , Crowii Prince who successively received"tlie" leaders of all parties in the except tlie Minority Socialists, with whom he dis-Thk-is the as thffyKaiser the CroWh Prijiflifcfvom all politMs.j Tlicre are some rumours of the Kaiser's pending abdication:! • (Renter's Telegrams.) .• The Kaiser has made an-important concession to the democratic agitation, having ordered that an Equal I'Vanehise Bill shall be submitted ,to, the. Prussian Diet in time to enable the next elections to be held ; in accordance with: the new franchise, thus modifying the previous decision that the reforms should only operate after the 'war.. '. "'

RESIGNATION OP GERMAN ,"IMPERIAL ..CHANCELLOR, i; (Australian and New Zealand Oabla Association.) Received' July 15, at 5.5 p.m. ' : •••■' ': NEW YORK, July 14. Dr von Bethmann-Hollweg German'lmperial Chancellor, has resigned. The High Commissioner reports : ' • LONDON, July 14 (10.20 p.m.) A German olfiqial report sa.ys. The Kaiser accepts the resignation of Dr von Bet^a^ r jlpllweg. s an(V appoints 'Bi*'Mijehaelis, ■Under-Secretary of Finanee and Prussian - Commissioner , of Food •Control;! - >'-• • - ; i: ;