The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-04-14
AUSTR|ANS ARE
 CONFIDENT AS ID
 OUTCOME OF WAR
High Officials Lay Blame for Conflict on Russia in Discussing the
 Situation

Vienna, April H.-via The Hague to London, 3:35 a. m)-Confidence In the outcome of the war is everywhere expressed In competent Auslro- -Hunsa- rian quarters despite the enormous sacrifice entailed.
 The Associated Press correspondent, during a months stay in the dual mon- leading statesmen and found none who indicated the slightest doubt of even | tual success.
 Although men in authority were un- willing to be quoted by name. the cor respondent was permitted to reproduce the substance of replies to a series of questions regarding responsibility for the war, Austria-H -Hungarys aims and objects and the wars effect on the in- ternal relations of the dual monarchy. | Responsibility for the war was put | squarely on Russia, which for years, statesmen said. had been working to- ward the destruction of the monarchy. rsing Servia as stalking horse" for | this purpose.
 .'The spark which kindled the war | dest nature for us, but the incident represented merely the consequence of a series of activities aiming at the de. l struction of Austria Hungary. Amer jeans who had paid little attention to 1 events in central and eastern Europe | saw the curtain go up only at the moment when Austria Hungary was | about to call little Servia to account. Their first impression was that of the misuse of our greater strength. Tie situation was quite different. 1 "For years it had been openly preached in Servia that the southern provinces must be torn from us. It has been proven that the participation of officials and officers in the incl tation of murder was not an isolated case.
 Secret Intriguing
 Secret societies intriguing against us within the monarchy were directed and prompted by men in official posi-
 tons Servia, therefore. was tacitly | involved in state of war against us, | which no state in the world could have | tolerated
 "Servia, however, never would have ventured to act so provocatively unless
 backed by Russia, who used Servia | as an outpost to provoke us until a ruitable moment arrived to carry out
 
 had been growing for 50 years. Rus sia recognized the idea as the most suitable means for continuing its poll Icy of conquest, whereby the Russian | Emperors have been for centuries en- larRing the empire.
 "The clearest definition of the cardinal 1 principles of Pan-Savism is that of the famous Russian author. Dostoyevslzy, | who said: All Slav streams must empty l into the Russian sea- While within it's | own empire Russia expresses the Slav | peoples it has constituted itself attorney for the Slav races beyond its borders as l a pretext for interfering in foreign af- fairs.
 "Ruthenians, Poles, Czechs and Slovenes enjoy in Austria Hungary all national l rights, whereas Russia is a prison for l the race not of Russian stock. Frightful 1 prosecutions of the Jews, constantly re- curing. show to what depths Russian cul- | ture descends.
 Russia Prepared
 Russia has long been preparing for l this war. Russia melted Servia and when | Servian societies went so far as to | suborn the murder of the crown prince and we wished to hold the Servian gov | ernment to account Russia determined to l prevent this by proposing conference at 1 which Russia should appear as the advo- cate D4 Servia. so as to reduce our meas- | ures against Servia to scale which Rus sia had decided was permissible. This | was equivalent to the plain recognition of condition in which Servia would have all the rights against us which Russia would authorize while we would have l only such rights against Servia as Rus sia should conce6e to US.
 This subversive work against us pro- ceeded and increased in vigor The Rus | sian government knew 1t was necessary l for us to take steps against Servia un- 1 less we wished to commit suicide and thus l gave us the alternative of suicide or war.
 "The war is for us a war of self-de- fense and existence. For Russia the war 1 is of conquest. Russia desires domina- | ton or protectorate over all the Slav peoples and aims at Constantinople.
 An old Russian phrase declared that 1 the way to Constantinople was by way of Vienna. Lately this has been modified to read by way of Vienna and l Berlin
 "Russia knew, however, that the two central powers would not tolerate the ex- tension of Russian supremacy over Con- l stantinople. Her ministers have openly declared in the Duma that Galicia and Constantinople must become Russian and the Emperor openly proclaimed the Pan- l Slav idea at the beginning of the war. NO one can know how long the war may last You may say, however, that we are firmly resolved and have strength to conduct it to successful end. "rhe war has brought Austria and Hun gary nearer together. Questions, too, which exist between the various nationali- ties will be easier of solution after the l war. because the great struggle has made | 1t clear that each must rely on the other
 we hope that Americans will come to see more and more what sort of a strug- gle we are waging. Austria Hungary is | by nature that which the United States 1 has gradually become, although not to such an extent by immigration, namely, an entity composed of many races. which, nevertheless wish to preserve their na- 1 tionality and individuality. 'srho resemblance which to . certain extent exists between. tee United States and Austria-Hunga is increased by the l fact that the principle of self-govern- ment 10 here carried to it's limits. Our | relations with the United States will un- dorbtedly show steady growth. Shipping communication will be moro frequent and our commerce will grow because it is to be assumed that after the war Austria Hungary win experience q period of pow erful economic development"