Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-08-12
Bohemia AS Factor i'm Austria's Peace Movements
BY CHARLES M. PEPPER.
UsTRIA's peace policy has

a USTRIA'S peace policy has now
n XN ,come to be understood as some
IN thing definite The difficulty
80 with putting it into effect is
that it means a break with Germany.
The entente allies and the United States
have no faith in an Austrian peace die
eettle for herself is whether she will
Sscontinue a vassaI of Germany or
whether she will strike out an indie
I pendent course forS-herself.
Potent reasons initiate both for and
against the latter course. The Aus
TRAN empire, as it existed at the begin
ming of the war. was based on the SUI
premacy of the Teutonic element in the
population The house of Hapsburg
was little more than an echo of the
house of Hohenzollern.
The German supremacy was main
tanned because of the fear of a COM
plete breakup of the various races.
which would leave nothing of Austria
proper il they were to be segregated
into separate entities and their nation
alities recognized. Even Hungary,
while enjoying very large degree of
independence and participating in the
AFFAIRS of the empire on co-equaI
basis. was not able to overturn the
Teutonic influence which was dominant
~ Budapest. The Hungarian chancel-
Tor for many years was pro-German.
Possibly one reason for Hungary ac-
cepting this Teutonic overlordship was
that, much as the Magyars hated the
Germans, they hated the Slavs worse
and Vienna. in its imperial policy, al
ways respected the antagonism of the
Magyars TO the Serbs and other Slavic
cended the throne in the midst of war
there has been a change in Hungary
and the pro-German element is no
longer in control This however. does
not make Austria's path to peace cas-
Ter. since phenever peace comes, there
must be concessions to the Slavs and
other non-Magyar nationalities. and
peace on such terms will be distaste-
full to Hungary.
European statesmen. and possibly a few
on mis- side OF the water. are said to be
hopeful that peace ultimately will come
through the detection of Austria from
Germany. but they realize the enormous
difficultiees in solving the great problem
: In this manner. If all the aspira lions of
the congiomerate races in the present geo
graphical bounds of the Austrian empire
& are 10 be satisfied, the territorial sub
fractions viii be such that Austria will be
hardly more than a dot on the map of
Europe.
Should Italy get not only the Trentino
also Trieste and the shores OF the Adri-
AUG, that will mean not only a large loss
s OF territory TO Austria. but also the clos
Ing OF the outlet to the Mediterranean. IL
the aspi-a tons of what are known as the
tueo-Siavs are gratified and a new Serbia
created. that viii mean further subtrac-
s non OF territory. Should the free Poland
Of which President Wilson dreamed be re-
a4tzed ON the basis of historic as well as
geographic identity. that will mean the
loss OF Gaiicia. since Galicia was part of
the Poland that Russia. Prussia and AUS
er1a partitioned among themselves IF Bo-
hemis should fully obtain the realization
o< her aspirations. the heart would be
AIKEN right out OF Austria
There have been nany direct illusions
Z N fhe British parliament to Bohemia and
The foreign Office has had to parry many
questions as TO just how far England
mad committed herself on this point The
replies generally have been vague, though
s The first stages of the war the British
Huo@ic was led to believe that the gov
4runnert never would entertain a propo-
L{(ou for peace which did not include the
ritual Acknowledgement OF the. Austro-
uGartan empire and the setting up OF