The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-10-06
AUSTRIAN VIEWS As 10 PEACE.
f,OREIGN MINISTER MAKES NEW
PLEA no ENTENTE.
For No Indemnities-Peace by Agree
ncnt and Disarmament Will Come
I'm Spite of Desire OF Individuals.

patches received here say that a din
ner given by the Hungarian premier
| pr. Alexander Wekerle. in honor of
Count Czerin. the Austro- Hungarian
minister OF foreign affairs. the latter
in reply to an invitation to make a
statement concerning his peace poll
cy. said:
TO Talleyrand has been ascribed
the saying that words are given to
conceal thoughts. 1t may be that this
saying was true for the diplomacy of
his country but for the present time
hardly can conceive a phrase less
accurate.
The millions who are fighting in
the trenches or behind the lines wish
to know why and for what they are
lighting. They have a. right to learn
why peace, which the entire world de-
sires. has not yet come. When / was
appointed to my post. I utilized the
first opportunity openly to declare
that we do not want TO oppress any
one but that on the other hand, we
would not suffer any oppression and
that we were prepared to enter upon
peace negotiations as soon as our enc
mics accepted the standpoint of peace
by agreement"
Count Czerin said a plain statement
OF war aims was indispensable. He
explained the conversion of the Cen
tral Powers to the doctrine of disarm-
ament by declaring that armaments
were necessary until the world was
convinced that Austria Hungary was
not a dying state. subject to dismem-
berment.
In conclusion Count Czerin threat
ems that. unless peace without annex
alton or indemnity were Immediately
accepted. 1t would be necessary for
Austria Hungary To revise her pro-
gram and seek compensation for fur
ther costs OF the war.
Arguing that competition In arma-
ment after the war would mean eco
nomic ruin for all states, Count Ger
min continued
This war taught us that we must
reckon on great increase in former
armaments. With unrestricted arma-
ments the military estimates would
amount to billions. That is impos-
sibie. 1t would mean complete ruin.
Complete disarmament is the only
issue from the difficulty.
Gigantic fleets will have no further
purpose when the nations of the world
guarantee the freedom of the seas and
land armies will be reduced to the
level required for the maintenance of
internal order. Every state will have
to give up something OF its indepcnd-
dence for the purpose of insuring the
world peace.
Probably only the present genera
uon Will not live to see the compile
tion OF this great pacific movement. 1t
can only be realized slowly. but con.
slider II our duty tn place ourselves at
the head Of the movement"
Strongly emphasizing the necessity
for naval disarmament on the high
seas. Count Czernin said:
II purposely say the high seas. for I
do not extend the idea to narrow seas
and 1 freely admit that for sea COM
munication special rules and reguia-
tion must obtain. With these factors
made clear. every ground for terrific
rial guarantees disappears. This Is the
basic i6ea OF the beautiful and sub
lime note which the pope addressed to
the whole world. III this basis is uc-
cepted by ourenemies. VIC can re-
nonncc the enlargement OF the Austro-
Hungarian monarchy, always provid.
cd that the enemy completely evacu-
ates our territory"
Saying that he had been blamed
poth NJ home and In unfriendly corr-
'rles Tor plain speaking with regard
to the Austro-Hungarian peace terms
Count Czernin proceeded:
IL withdraw nothing. being convinc-
cd that nm overwhelming majority OF
the people approve my standpoint.
In bread outline. our program for
the reesiablishment of order i'm the
world has been laid down i'm our reply
10 the pope's note. 1t may appear in
conceivable to- many that the central
powers desire to renounce military
"rmaments but the war has pro-
duccd new facts, conditions and con-
ccptions. which have shaken the rn,.n.
d"''on of European politics. Especial
lN has the idea cruutIad ,,hiob ha,a