Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-11-16

Berlin, Nov. 10, (Via London, NOV.
opening OF peace
negotiations may perhaps De expect
ed with fair prospects of success In the
course of the coming winter, ACCORDING
to Count Albert Apponyi. veteran Hum
garian leader and former Hungarian
premier. Count Apponyi, who rs VISIT
ing Germany to deliver two addresses
on Hungarian history, expressed MS
views in an interview given to cor
respondent of The Associated Press IN
which he discussed the general Euro
pean situation.
1--WE cannot expect" he said, ito
see peace negotiations opened Wlthln
the next few weeks while the Ruma-
MAN campaign is still undecided. How
ever. l regard our chances for success
there as excellent and once Rumanla
is crushed | think both sides will be
willing to consider the. question OF
peace. Rumania was the Entente's
last card and is proving a losing one.
We are massing a big army against
the Rumanians and l think that the
end will come shortly. Of course our
progress on the Transylvanian front Is
a bit slow owing to the great difficult
ties of the country. and particularly to
the deficiency in rearward communi-
cations. These communications are FAR
poorer than in the west or even IN
Galicia and Russia. However, the en-
try of Rumania into the war has in
many respects been really an advant-
age to us"
mot Lloyd George"
To illustrate what he regards as the
improving chances for peace negotia-
tons, Count Apponyi referred to re-
cent speeches of statesmen in the op-
posing camps. mot Lloyd George. of
course" he INTERCEPTED, parenthetical-
ly, but such as Lord Grey and Chan
cellor Won Bethman-H ollWeg for exam
ple." -, ..-
He suggested a comparison between
the utterances of these leaders a year ago
and at the present. Then" he said,
their respective standpoints were as far
apart as the poles. but now, although
there are still wide differences betwee;
them, they have most appreciably drawn
nearer. The references to crushing Ger
many have been eliminated from the Brit
ish announcements and the agitation for
annexation is dwindlng in Germany.
Chancellor Won Bethmann Hollweg."
he went on. has pointed out in his latest
speech that he has never demanded the
annexation Of Belgium. Such instances
as these show, in my opinion, that there
are now no really insuperable obstacles to
the opening of a discussion on future
peace OF course the Kingdom of Poland
must stand, but I believe Russia can be
brought to reconcile herself to this sit
uation."
Count Apponyi was asked if he thought
the impulse to start peace discussions
could come from within the camps of tho
warning powers or whether an outside
impetus in the form of a tender Of good
offices from a neutral parsonage or pow
er would be necessary. He replied that he
saw no reason why neutral mediation
should not be welcomed when the oppor-
tune moment to which he had referred
should arrive, and added that he knew no
reason why President Wilson should not
be acceptable as an intermediary.
Wilson Useful
1--WE feel, of course" he said, that
President Wilson has not treated us fair
ly and that he has departed from the way
Of strict neutrality. But even though one
does not like a person that is no reason
for rejecting his services when thesemay
be useful"
The Hungarian statesman believes that
the war should not only end because OF
what he regards as the futility OF further
hostilities but because of his expressed
conviction as to the menace of Russia.
He declared that the western states
of Europe must band themselves TO-
eether for defense againts Russia
which country he characterized as
the great menace to the future peace OF
Europe and the world. In his opinion
Frances efforts to regain Alsace-Lo-
raine are doomed to failure and that
republic may as well reconcile hersel1
to peaceful and friendly relations with
her eastern neighbors. He hoids tnat
Great Britain has made an abortive
effort to crush Germany as a trade RI
val by appeal to arms, but tnat there
is nothing essential in the cnaracteA
Of the three nations to prevent tneir
union as friends In respect to RUSSIA
however, on the other hand, Count APP
ponyl declared that the organization
Of the country contains the germs OF
war and that she is compelled by the
very essence Of her being TO attempt
to extend her domination AT every OPP
portunity over the nations with whicn
she il in contact.
! "once this war. ID finished" - said.