THE GERMAN CHANCELLOR

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17103, 7 September 1917, Page 3

THE GERMAN CHANCELLOR

A PEN PICTURE OF DS MICHAELIS. Picture a heary-set " Bismarckian " individual of deliberate speech, and an effect of tremendous, slow-moving power; a serious-minded person who rarely smiles and is deeply religious, as seems appropriate lor tho sou of a clergyman; a square-jawed, dark-haired, powertully knit man oi 60— and (tho New York 'limes says) you have Dr Goorg Michaelis, "tho man of mystery," who has been called to tno Imperial Chancellorship of Germany m the most trying days of her history. The picture—and it was not oasy to getwas obtained from a man m New xorlt City, a German journalist, who had known Miohaelis for fifteen years and who agreed to tell what he knew about him on condition that lie receive no personal mcuIn tho conversation that followed there were two things tho journalist insisted upon-and thev were interesting because they seemed to bo the views also, of a majority of tho leading Germans in tne city after the news of the Berlin upheaval reached America: First, that Michaelis would bring about peace, and, second, that tho "liberalisation" of Germany was at

hand. , . , . . ~: '•But how do you explain his relation to the Crown Prince?" was asked. ' lhe despatches say Michaelis is his man, and that his appointment is a victory tor tho Junkers and reactionaries." "Knowing Michaelis, 1 do not believe it," was the reply. "It is not true, lhe Crown Prince is not popular in Germany, and the peonlo are not behind him. ile has scored no victory. . "Michaelis is not the Crown .Pripceß man. I know this. 1 have known Michaelis 15 years, and I know his appointment ie a concession— a long step toward democratisation of Germany—even though before tho war Michaelis was of a mind with the Prussians and behoved in a strong military policy. He does not believe so any longer, and from what I blow of the man he will make a thorough job of what he has undertaken. I remember his saying once: 'I do not believe in undertaking a .job with a dull sword,' and 1 know that is his attitude now. "Ho has been called to a great task— perhaps tho greatest tapk any man over has been called on to perform—and he will accomplish it. Ho will do a thorough job of it. His attitude toward the war and the policy of Germany has changed since 1914. In those days Germany was menaced on all sides by influences that no longer exist. Russia, for example, is no longer an empiro with an ambitious ruler, and this has relieved the tension.

"Therefore, it is no longer necessary for Germany to maintain her old policy. Furthermore, it is no longer desirable that the great war machine bo controlled by one man. Michaelis has been chosen to bring about internal reforms. Germany is to have a new Government—a Government something like England. That of tho United States is not suitable for Germany, but that of England, or something like it, is. It is to bring this about that Miohaelis has been appointed. "The power of declaring war is to be taken from the Kaiser. Mark what 1 tell you. Tho Kaiser will not be asked to abdicate, for sentimental 'reasons. 'Germany is not yet ready to dethrone the Kaiser, any more than England is ready to dethrono her King. Germans like the sentiment of royalty, and having one man at the head of it—even if, like tho English King, he is only a figurehead." " Michaelis is the son of a clergyman, a very devout and an orthodox Protestant clergyman. He was born in Silesia, in a town called Hayman, and I think ho haa two sisters. He may have other sisters and brothers, but I do not know them. Michaelis, like his father, took his religion seriously, as he did his administrative duties. I remember going to see him frequently in Berlin before the war. He was then Under Secretary of Financo, and he impressed mo as a man who took things very seriously. During all the time I knew him ho was never what you would call playful. "It is characteristic of the man—and it is interesting in view of the reasons ascribed for bis selection as Chancellor— that nothing about him, as you might say, stood out. I recall no personal anecdotes, no incidents that would hcli> to givo a better picture of the man. "He was an efficient administrative official. Like all others who seek to go into Government service in Germany, ho studied law, and successfully passed his examination as a lawyer. He was from the first a ,'political realist.' That is to say, there, was nothing romantic or visionary about him. Ho created no phrases, like the ' scrap of paper' of Bethmann-Hollweg, and he dealt only -with facts. Well, as I say, he passed his examination for Government service successfully and entered upon his career. Before becoming Under Secretary of Finance he was in the Government service at Breslau (as First President of the Municipal Council of Breslau). "Then, too, at one time he taught in the German Government School at Tokio., I do not remembyrr the dates. He camo back to Germany andi devoted himself thenceforward to Government work. As I have said, he was one of those who, beforo the war, believed in a strong war machine and in the Prussian policy. He is a member of the National Liberal Party. He made no political enemies, because he was not in politics. His relation to the Government was administrative, nothing else. He performed his work—unusually well, it is true—but he had no powers of initiative. After serving, as Under Secretary of Fin ance, he was made Food Controller. There he conducted himself as before. Ho undertook the vast problem of feeding the nation and of conserving its supply in his usual thorough manner. He was quiet, but he tolerated no interference.

"it was for these qualities and because ho had no past that he was chosen Chancellor. He didn't have to live down such an unfortunate phrase as 'a scrap of paper' or any other mistakes. _ The newspapers have sized up the situation exactly. He was chosen because he was objectionable to no party. He had offended no one. "Michaelis will reconcile the conflicting forces within Germany and help it to democratise itself. The war machine will no longer bo controlled by any one man or any set of men,- but by Parliament. The country will liave a Government like England. Peace will be declared on a basis of no annexations and no indemnities. I know that Michaelis does not believe in trying to force the sections of France now occupied by German troops, or Belgium, under the dominion of the empire. The country will not repeat the mistake of Alsace-Lorraine, although, if a vote were to be taken in Alsace-Lorraine, I think 80 per cent, would vote in favour of remaining a part of Germany. Sentimentally, Alsace-Lorraine is French, but the people have prospered so much under the Germans that the majority, I am prefer to remain with the empire.