Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-12-16

00 VAR against Austria-HunSary
MM BY the United state. means
WNY hope for the subject ma
" " tionalities of the dual en-
pire. This is the Interpretation put
Upon it by representatives OF those
races
British policy for a long time was
Influenced by the belief that forbear-
ance toward Austria would strengthen
the movement of the different nation
alities in the empire toward attaining.
il not independence, at least auton-
omy. This belief may have found some
Judgment in President Wilson's mind
when he failed to ask Congress to de-
clare that state of war existed last
April with Austria as well as with Ger
many. Events demonstrated thatAustria
is an enemy as much as Germany. They
also seem to show that the more deeply
Austria becomes involved in war the
greater will grow her internal difficult
ties. and her ability to check the move
ment for independence, not only by the
Czechs of Bohemia. but by the Slav
nationalities will be lessened.
-
The principal ones of these are
tinctly as the Serbs. Croats and Slo-
yenes. This movement Of the Jugo-
Slavs is one of the most significant de-
velopments of the great war. It is
geogra phical as well as a racial and
national entity that is comprised
within the Jugo-SIav movement.
In July last the movement took def
mite form to unite the southern Slavs
in a Democratic nation under the form
of a self-governing Kingdom The
plan was formulated at Corfu, the Gre
clan island, which the allies had oc-
cupied when King Constantine was all
lowing Greece to be made the puppet
of Germany. 1t was to Corfu that the
Seat of the Serbian government was
removed after Serbia came under the
temporary domination of the armies
OF the central powers.
During the midsummer. for several
weeks. delegates of the Jugo-Slav
provinces OF Austria Hungary were In
session at Corfu. They were in fire.
cuent conference with the Serbian gov
eminent. The outcome of their ses-
sions and their conferences was an
agreement or compact signed by the
president of the southern Siav commit
3 tee and by the premier of Serbia.
This agreement declared that the
Serbs, Croats and Slovenes. although
split in Austria-Hungary into eleven
provincial administrations and thirteen
Legislative bodies, constituted a single
nation which for centuries had fought
against the Turks on the east and the
Teutons and Magyars on the west. The
main principles set forth were that the
state of the Serbs. Croats and Slovenes,
known also southern Slavs or Jugo-
Slavs. should be free and independent
kingdom. with territory united and in
Invisible: that IL should be a constitu-
tional monarchy. democratic and par
Elementary. and that IL should be
powerful rampant against German ex-
| Si nd ar ms raf hi 70 oil V nf
peoples who uphold right. liberty and
International justice. Complete free
dom of religion was guaranteed, Greek
Orthodox, Roman Catholic and Mussul-
man alike.
Since the Serbian government, al
though driven from its own country
and temporarily in exile. has not lost
Its identity. this government was the
instrument utilized to communicate to
other governments the formation of
the new Slav nation. The communica
Nikola Pachitch. the premier and min
lister of foreign affairs of Serbia.
The Serbian premier when he com
munica ted with the various governments
also made public statement in which
he explained that the Serbs, Greats ant
SIovenes. distributed through the west
ern Balkans, are essentially one race
with one language. although this rae
has been broken into small groups b.
the political policy of Austria Hungary
1t was now proposed to bring these scat
tered groups together again. and Civ
them a democratic government with par
Elementary institutions and responsible
ministry.
Z. posed new Kingdom included Serbia
Montenegro. Bosnia Herzegovina Dial
malta, Croatia. Slayonia and the easter
part OF Istria. back of Trieste. Thi