News

* Cologne, 28 Nov. The “N. Rh. Ztg.” stated in its issue of 17 November: “And what of the Jews, who since the emancipation of their sect, at least in their distinguished representatives, have everywhere stepped to the forefront of the counter-revolution — what awaits them? Victory was not even waited for to fling them back into their ghetto.” We cited at that time Bromberg government decrees. We have an even more striking fact to report today. The Grand Freemasons’ Lodge of the Three Crowns in Berlin — as is well known, the Prince of Prussia is supreme head of Prussian Freemasonry, just as Frederick William IV is supreme head of Prussian religion — has declared the Minerva Lodge in Cologne inactive. Why? Because it has affiliated Jews. For the information of the Jews!

Session of the Federal Council and the Council of States

** Bern, 25 November. In yesterday’s session of the National Council, the question of the federal seat was brought no nearer to a solution, but was rather removed further from it. It was decided against the majority that the federal seat should be determined not in a joint session of both councils, by secret ballot, but by a law to be deliberated on separately by both councils. As I already suspected earlier, a conflict will arise in this case; the National Council will elect Bern, the Council of States Zurich. So say members of both councils themselves. If the Council of States does not rescind this decision, it cannot be foreseen how the conflict will be resolved. In other matters, the federal town to be elected was charged with procuring and furnishing the necessary premises for the legislative federal assemblies and for the central government, and also with providing a mint building. Thereupon an unlimited credit was granted to the Federal Council by a large majority of votes. The same credit was simultaneously opened by the Council of States and thus has the force of law.

Today there was first a session of the Council of States, then of the united councils, and afterwards of the National Council. In the united session Druey and Franscini were sworn in as federal councillors. What else of importance occurred I shall report to you tomorrow, as I was prevented from attending the sessions.