File No. 862.00/96
The Minister in Sweden (Morris) to the Secretary of State
[Received July 14, 8 a.m.]
530. Have procured from reliable source following information concerning conditions and developments in Germany:
Resolution has been proposed by Scheidemann group of Social Democrats declaring Germany’s war aims do not include annexations or indemnities; that Germany fighting defensive warfare; Left extreme Progressive and Center Catholic parties declare themselves in favor this resolution. Two-thirds of Reichstag declare in favor of no annexations.
Another resolution introduced in the Reichstag demands that vote reform in Prussia giving equal adult suffrage be immediately put into effect instead of at the end of war. Erzberger, leader of Center Party, is championing this resolution and has declared that in order to carry it through the present Prussian Ministry must resign including Chancellor. This reform would give every Prussian adult equal vote in election of members of Landtag and would place the election of the seventeen Prussian members of Bundesrat in the hands of the people as opposed to present system of voting in proportion to income.
A third resolution demands the adoption of report of the Reichstag committee on revising Constitution of the German Empire. This committee of twenty-four was appointed last April and has reported by three-quarters majority in favor of representative parliamentary government making ministry directly responsible to Reichstag and taking from Kaiser and Chancellor their power of veto. This resolution also proposes change Constitution so that power [to] declare war shall rest solely with Reichstag and not with Kaiser and Bundesrat [as] at present. This proposal comes from liberal elements and has support of Center Party, National Liberals, Progressives and Social Democratic Party, numbering three-quarters of Reichstag. Situation has become so acute and fight so determined that the Kaiser obliged to go to Berlin and has for the first time during the war called a meeting of the Imperial Council of State. Crown Prince has also been summoned to Berlin. Reports from Berlin state that announcement of Imperial Council to be made soon will declare Kaiser in favor of immediate Prussian vote reform and parliamentary government. German censor has passed telegrams from Berlin stating that the Chancellor, Helfferich, Von Capelle and Zimmermann will probably resign but later information places this in doubt.
[Page 129]It is reported that there is considerable friction between German and Austrian Governments especially over the question of Germany’s desire that Austria call to the colors men younger and older than those now serving. Reports state that difference between both countries were reason recent visit Vienna of Generals Hindenburg and Ludendorff.