KAISER'S SWAN SONG.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17006, 13 November 1918, Page 7

KAISER'S SWAN SONG.

SIGNING OF REFORM BILL.

OFFICE OF SERVICE TO PEOPLE.

LONDON*. Nov. 3. Reuter'e correspondent at Amsterdam forwards the text of the Kaiser's Reform Decree, addressed to the Chancellor, Prince Maximilian, which is as follows:— Your Grand-Ducal Highness, I return herewiti for immediate publication a, 8i11... to arne;id the Imperial Constitution, and the law of March 17, 1879, relating to the represer tation of the Imperial Chancellor, which, has been submitted to mo for signa- ' . ture. On tho occasion of a. step so momentous for the further' history, of tug /:■;;, German people, I desire to express my ■-i feelings. ..'.-.',;'. , •./■'■■'.■///■.,'■"..-.', -••■'■■■•-.'/ Prepared by a series■■ : of Government Acts,' a new order now .tomes into force, * transferring the fundamental rights of :.,, the Kaiser's person to the people. Thus...;; ends /'-.a': period which wiil '.stand ■'•'.' in; ■'.. honour-.- before the eycr-.'ot/;future genera- ■ tions. v r; "■■'■.■-...,. ,:!'..'.■.- '■••"-1": ■'■'''■: ;.-•. Despite;.•;" all''.' struggles 'between-' inherited authority/ and the ■ a piling .;. forces, the former rendered possible to our'-.. ■" people that tremendous .development which . has imperishably . revealed , : itself in, the ..'■'■. wonderful achievements of this'.war. in/ I the terrible storms of four years; of war, 1 however, old forms have been broken. up, I hut: to;, leave'ruins behind, but •to ■ make • ■ room for new and vital forms. After tho ' achievements of these times the German' ';/ [people can claim that no right -which?'may. ;,;.-.' ! guarantee a free and happv future ''shall-''; ;. be- withheld from them. . The proposals. ; ; .. , which the allied Governments have- now-:.', adopted and extended owe their origin to ~ this -conviction.-- . I. however, with .my.-exalted allies, eo. ''■'■■.■■ dorse these decisions -.-of ..'Parliament, /;/ in the firm determination, so far as I am concerned, to co-operate in their ' ..full •'•;'. development,';.' convinced . that I ■'•'. : I thereby am promoting the weal of- tbs '■ German peop'es.'" ;'./•/'■ ■ : The'Kaiser's office is one,of service .to'-.' ; v /tlir/i people..' Miv, therefore.' the 'rew;. '.". order release all the good powers which '..' mv own people need in order to sup- ' port the trials overhanging the Empire, and with ...firm.; step win a bright 'future I from' the gloom -of the present.