Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-10-04
AUSTRIA MAY BE FORCED
TO SEEK COMPENSATION
Without Annexations or Indem-
mites Is Accepted.
COUNT CZERNIN DEFINES AIMS
In Broad Outline, He Declares That
His Program for Re-Establishment
OF Order In World Is Laid Down
in Reply to Pope's Note.
. tBy Associated Press.l

1By Associated PresB.l a.
AMSTERDAM. October s.-Budarest
dispatches received here say that at
dinner given by the Hungarian Pre-
mier. DR.. Alexander Wekerle, in honor
of Count Czernin, tho Austria -HunEa-
rian Minister of Foreign Affairs, the
latter. In reply to an invitation to
make q statement concerning his peace
policy, said:
The millions who are fighting in
the trenches or behind the lines wish
to know why and for what they are
fighting. They have 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 did 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 peace me-
gotiations as soon as our enemies ao-
cepted the standpoint of peace by
agreement"
Count Czernin said n plain statement
OF war aims was indispensable. He
explained the conversion of the CEN
trail powers to the doctrine of disarma-
ment by declaring that armanents were
necessary until the world was con-
vinced that Austria-Hungary was not
dying state. subject to dismember-
ment.
ened that unless peace without annex
ations or indemnities were Immediate
ly accepted. 1t would be necessary for
Austria Hungary to revise it's program
and seek compensation for further
costs Of the war.
COMPETITION IN ARMANENTS
ECONOMIC RUIN FOR ALL
Arguing that competition in arma-
ments after the war would mean cco-
nomic ruin for all states, and declar-
ing that Austria Hungary had not been
prepared for war and had only made
up during the conflict for her former
neglected military equipment, Count
Czernin continued:
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 in
ternal order. Every State will have
to give up something of it's independ-
ence for the purpose OF insuring tho
world peace"
Strongly emphasizing the necessity
for naval disarmament on the high
seas, Count Czernin said:
"I purposely say the high seas, for
I do not extend tho idea to narrow
seas. and freely admit that for sea
communications special rules and regu-
lations must obtain. With these fac
tors made clear, every ground for ter
ritorial guarantees disappears. This is
the basic idea of the beautiful and
sublime note which the Pope ad-
dressed to the whole world. If this
basis is accepted by our enemies,
we can renounce the enlargement of
the Austro-Hungarlan monarch, al
ways provided that the enemy COM
plctely evacuates our territory
STANDPOINT APPROVED ny
OVERWHELMING MAJORITY
Saying that he had boen blamed both
at home and In unfriendly countries
for plain speaking with regard to the
Austro-Hungarian peace terms. Count
CzarnIn proceeded:
"I withdraw nothing, being con-
WINGED that an overwhelming majority
Of the people. approve my standpoint.
I'm broad outline our program for
the establishment OF order In the
world has been laid down in our reply
5TontInna,I a., Cocond 49, y