The debate in the Reichstag on the German Army Estimates
was interrupted last Saturday by a curious incident. According to the Times correspondent, the Con- servative Deputy, Herr von Oldenburg, objected to the practice of discussing military discipline. The opinion of the Reichstag was of no value in such matters ; the German Emperor must be in a position to say to any Lieutenant: "Take ten men and shut the Reichstag." Thereupon .the Socialist Deputy, Herr Ledebour, shouted several times : "What does the President say to that ? " The Hereditary Prince zu Hohenlohe-Langenburg, who was in the chair, would have done well to return some airy answer, as the speech of Herr von Oldenburg had been that of a rollicking schoolboy, and so far had been accepted as such with general enjoyment. Unfortunately the President treated the question with great solemnity, and hotly retorted that he refused to be criticised. A tumult broke out and lasted sometime, and various Deputies demanded that the Reichstag should be protected from insult. On Tuesday Herr Ledebour protested against the manner in which he had been called to order by the President, but his resolution was rejected by a large majority. The incident does not do much credit to the Reichstag. First the words of an enfant terrible were exalted into an insult, and then the insult was swallowed with a lack of spirit which can only be described as amazing.
Previous page
