The Washington herald., 1917-04-23
WILL DISCUSS REVOLT
CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONE.

rate peace Is considered to be imminent
Indications are that such a plea already
has been made secretly and that it is
now being considered by statesmen of
Italy. France, and England at the joint
conference now in session in Rome.
Because OF the pressure that Berlin
would bring to prevent any such agree
nient, the negotiations upon which q sep
arate peace might be based must Of
necessity be kept secret until a tentative
agreement has been reached.
Ready to Cede Provinces.
From all Indications Austria-Hungsry.
as controlled by the new Emperor
Charles. would be willing to give up the
captured Italian provinces Of the south
and even cede part of her most eastern
boundary to her enemies If there existed
chance OF escaping the war with her
main possessions intact.
The new Emperor is known to have
been reSentful of the growing German
power over the dual monarchy ever since
he succeeded to the throne. With a
young mans spirit OF independence, he
has resented being placed in a position
almost entirely subordinate to the Ger
man statesmen.
Charles succession to the throne. more
than any other thing, is said TO be re-
\ sponsible for the growing probability of
an open break with Germany. While
| there are admittedly civil and economic
dangers confronting the empire, it is
believed these might be Temporarily
patched up If the conglomerate races in
Austria Hungary were really imbued
with a common desire to continue the
war to a successful conclusion.
Highly Significant.
The Iassitude of the Austro- Hun garian
forces on both the Italian and the Rus
sian fronts Is considered to be highly
significant. Not since Charles becams
Emperor has there been any important
military movement upon either front.
With the spring far advanced, the Aus
Itro-Hungarians are making no attempt
to attack. The Italians are likewise con-
Quoting no important operations. A vir-
tual truce exists. Whether this has been
brought about by secret diplomatic ne
gotiations between Vienna and Rome is
problematical.
The fact that Italy has made no effort
so far to obtain financial assistance from
the United States, while her allies are
sending commissions to Washington to
conclude negotiations, is, however, taken
as good ground for the belief that Vic
tor Emanuel and Emperor Charles have
reached such a stage in peace negotia-
tions that italian statesmen realize the
useleSsness of entering into negotiations
with the United States for any vast
financial assistance.
Bulgaria Would Follow.
The signing OF a separate peace by Aus
| tria-Hungary would be quickly followed
by similar action by Bulgaria, II is con-
1dently believed here.
Confidential reports TO the state Depart
| ment within the past few weeks have
| dealt largely with the Bulgarian situa-
| tion, principally upon the probability of
that nation, after having assisted in the
subjugation of Rumania, now being will
ling to enter into a separate peace pact.
Widespread unrest has been exhibited
| by Bulgarian leaders recently because Of
the indications that the German military
power Is gradually failing Also, the nat
ural sympathy OF the Bulgsrisns for
Russia is said TO be asserting itself more
strongly than ever since the overthrow
of the Russian Gar, with the result that
| there Is growing desire for peace with
their Slavic brothers