New-York tribune., 1917-07-30
Austrian Foreign Minister
Defends Purpose of the
Reichstag Resolution
"Honorable Peace
Or War to the End
Says Teutons Can Never
Be Crushed; Welcomes
Understanding

| vienna, July ~ iva IopeHHdsehJ'-
Reiterating that Austria-Hlngary was
ready to accept an honorable peace, but
that the Dual Monarchy, in conjunction
with its allies, would fight to the last
extremity If the Entente powers de-
/ clned to enter negot; t;ations on the
basis of a peace by understanding, as
recently outlined by the German I'M
perial Chancellor and the Reichstag,
| Count Ottokar Czernin Won Chudenitz,
the Austro-H Hungarian Foreign Minis
ter, in an interview to-day discussed
at length peace possibilities.
The Austrian statesman took occa-
sion to reply TO the speech made by
David Lloyd George in London on July
! 2l, when the British Premier charac-
! terized the address delivered in the
Reichstag by DR.. Michaelis, the Ger
man Chancellor, as a sham. The count
said that Mr.. Lloyd George was mis-
taken when he represented the Reichs-
/ tag peace resolution to be "a piece Of
/ bluff"
"The Chancellor and the Reichstag," !"
the Foreign Minister said, declared
that Germany was conducting a de-
fensive war, and that the German peo-
pie only asked for an honorable peace
by means of an understanding and an
agreement offering the basis for last
] ing reconciliation of the nations. The
| Chancellor and the Reichstag solemnly
affirmed that the German people desired
no forced conquest, and abhorred
economic isolation and incitement TO
enmity between nations after the war
"What Do Allies Want?"
az must reply to Premier Lloyc
George with the question: What are
we finally to expect from the Entente
What we desire is quite evident frorr
the we'll known declarations made in
Vienna and from the demonstrations
by the German people, showing that
a complete agreement exists 70 the
very last detail between Vienna and
Berlin.
"What the Chancellor and the
Reichstag declared is what described
months ago as an honorable peace
which the Vienna government is ready
10 accept, and whereby it seeks last
ing reconciliation OF the nations. But
there also exists the complete agree
ment that we never shall accept a
ueace which is not honorable for US.
of the Entente does not wish to en-
ter negotiations on The basis which we
have clearly Indicated we shall con-
tinue the war and fight TO the last ex-
tremity.
az don't care whether this admission
I is regarded as n sign of weakness or
of strength. To me 1t seems only
a sign OF common sense and morality
which revolt against the idea OF pro
longing the war. am absolutely con-
vinced the Entente will never succeed
in crushing US, and since in our po-
sition Of defence we have no inten-
tion Of crushing the enemy, the war
will end sooner or later IN peace by
understanding. But, to my way OF
thinking, the natural conclusion is that
the further sacrifices and suffering I'M
posed on all humanity are useless
and that il is necessary in the interests
Of humanity to reach peace by under
standing as soon as possible.
Strong in Alliance
Gas we have fought. in conjunction
with our faithful allies, so we shall
make peace in conjunction with them
now or later, and we shall fight in con-
junction with them to the last ex-
tremity unless the enemy shows will
inpness 20 understand our viewpoint.
~ shall not put the question who
was responsible for the war, because
II il useless to discuss the past IN this
connection. But | shall speak Of the
future. and / wish to express the de-
sire that the world may succeed after
the conclusion of peace in finding ade-
nuate means and eXpedients 70 prevent
forever the recurrence of such fright
ful war.
"Eyerv man with any moral feeling
must cooperate in this gigantic work.
All states must unite in efforts TO pro-
cure guarantees which will make i'm
nossible in the future such frightful
disaster as the present world war
The road may be difficult, but 1t is not
impossible
Referring to the internal situation,
Count Czernin said:
"The characterization Of eonstitu-
tiors is the great demand OF the times.
\ Roth in Austria and in Hungary the
Governments are putting their hands
10 this great work, but they are against
in,ervention from the ouside. We do
nnt interyene.i in the internal affairs Of
other states, and we demand compIeCe
reciprocity in this matter,