CENTRAL POWERS.

Timaru Herald, Volume CVI, Issue 16234, 2 April 1917, Page 8

CENTRAL POWERS.

DR. HOLLWEG ON THE ' RUSSIAN POSITION. , x AND THE CHINESE RUPTURE. (Australian and N.,Z. Cable Assn.) - ' LONDON, March 30 Dr.'.Hollweg,-referring to Russia, said the time honoured 'friendship 'ended' with the , death . of Czar Alexander 11. The Pmneror Nicholas driftod into the Entente's wa.ko and into PuJi-slavistic • currents and finally, because a partisan of the war party, he declined to listen in July, 1914, to the Kaiser's appeal. ■Whoti in 1915 the Japanese wn•• and the ensuing revolution reduced Russia to (lire stress the Kaiser urged the Czar no longer to oppose the nation's wishes ' for reforms, hut Nicholas preferred ■ other roads. Had Russia then concen-.i S l

trated upon internal reconstruction she would have avoided' the restless policy of expansion leading to the present war. Dr. Hollweg characterised as lies and slander the reports that Germany desired to 'abolish Russia's hardly won freedom and that the Kaiser would like to re-establish a state of Czardom over enslaved subjects.

The, method of reconstruction of. internal' affairs was purely tho business of the Russians themselves. "We will not meddle with it. We only hope that the conditions in Russia will develop in such a way a to make her a strong and firm bulwark of peace." Warm thanks. were due to Marshal von Hindenburg<~ahd General Ludendorff for what they had accomplished on the western front. Ho Vmasfced of the success of the'submnrine campaign, and concluded by referring to internal questions, He declared that the speeches in the Reichstag had not convinced him of the possibility of bepinnmg a reform in the Prussian franchise It was a most serious matter to decide on such a question whhle millions of men were in the trenches.

Dr. Hollweg continued: Our enemies' presstiro forced China's rupture We are convinced that the result of the war will enable Germany to rebuild her trace, and influence in the East at "our enemies expense. Friendliness mil re-l vive it China _ continues the necessary? resistance against her present protestors, egoism and greed. "• ' *■'' GERMAN COMMENTS ON TKE SPEECH. - Tin March"3o - ins. Conprrvativo -newspapers coldlv approve.cf Dr. Hollweg's speech; OtlieV sections ar© dissatisfied with it, especially complaining. of the abseneo of electoral reforms.

- 1 -——— STNSATION IN- REICHSTAG. sodXusTs Oppose the war. ■Both Socialist groups in the ReicliO a ß • Ppposycd;.... the suppleine:itary^ r'e«timatcs, on Thursday Herr "Bernstein : " ll l xperienoe / iustifies distrust of the Government's v policy. Neutrals hate us, and America has been forced to sido vrith the Allies Events' in Russia . show that social democracy.- can achieve a : peace-loving , ideal. A just peace must be reached* as soon >as possible. - ' The Socialist vote caused -a sensation in the Reichstag. It is the first time the whole party has opposed "the Government. This means systematic opposition on the part of all the Socialists-in the. country to the continuation of the' war, and may result in.a-serious political crisis. . i - The Government is making concessions all round and jn'omising franchise reforms to the Socialists and the withdrawal of the Anti-Jesuit Bill. A debate in the Upper House of the 'Prussian Diet showed strong junker I opposition to electoral reform.