LIEBKNECHT QUESTIONS THE GOVERNMENT
Beginning with August 20, 1915, Liebknecht began putting his questions in the Reichstag which so much embarrassed the German Government.
In England this form of parliamentary control of the Government is very common. In Germany this form is very seldom used. The possibility of putting supplementary questions gives this method a particularly great usefulness where there is so little parliamentary criticism as in Germany.
Reichstag Meeting, Aug. 20, 1915, 2 P. M.
At the table of the Federal Government are present: Ministers Delbrück, Helfferich, and Lisco.
The first order of business is a question by Dr. Karl Liebknecht.
Dr. Karl Liebknecht: (reads his question amid great commotion in the House) "Is the Government, in case of corresponding readiness of the other belligerents, ready, on the basis of the renunciation of annexations of every kind, to enter into immediate peace negotiations?"
Secretary of State v. Jagow: "I believe I shall meet the wishes of the great majority of the House if I decline to answer the question of the member, Dr. Liebknecht, at the present time as inopportune." (Great applause, especially at the right side of the House.)
Dr. K. Liebknecht: "That is concealing the capitalistic policy of conquest (great uproar). The answer of the Secretary of State is a confession of a policy of annexation (repeated great uproar). The people want peace" (continual uproar and laughter).