New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-04-18
People Not Yet Ready to
Give Up Territory or
Indemnity
Late Spring Hits Crops
Large Cities Suffer Hunger,
While Rural Districts
Have Plenty

Bcrne. Switzerland. April i6 wa
Paris, April I-I.-Pcacc and sprng
Ueathcr are what the Austrian and
Hungarian people most desire. Daring
a lone STAY AZ Vienna. whence the cor
respondent has just come. there was
observed every indication that the gov
ernmcnt and the people are willing TO
,eeept any peace proposal leaving Aus
tro.Hungarian territory intact ana
making no claim for war inccmn''l.
Bv the same token, there appears 10
be no doubt that tho monarchy WIZ
eontinue fighting unless these N.''-
mum conditions are met. WINE ING
public is extremely weary o. inc VAL
It's mind is made up 90 persist 4h me
,truegle 20 the end rather inan accept
hJmliating terms.
Sowing Is Three Weeks Late
The demands made on Aus'ria-Hun-
carv's economic resources ana huiha"
se,cryoir BY Che war arc beginning 10
roach the limit Of bcarab.cncss. ana
The severe winter. whose after c"tC'
arc sull felt. tended 20 increase 'he
rrcat burden borne by the popUial loH'
The sowing Of crops ls about thfee
weeks behind. which causes consider
bbIo anxiety. notwithstanding the iac'
that the winter crops are reported a.
In GOOD condition. Spring weather is
awaited eagerly for the planting OF Po-
lstoes and other summer crops.
The lateness Of the season has caused
reinforcement Of the call 20 the colorI
Tor recent levies Of recruits, when VIII
start training on May Do instead OF
April -.
Vienna and other large cities con
Gnue 20 struggle with FOOD problem e.
which are due largely 20 the extreme
moor conditions Of transport. The long
war has caused general depreciation
OF railroad tracks and rolling stock.
Another factor in the food shortage
In the cities is the shorts GIFTED system
Of regulations. leaving comparative
plentv in many rural districts. while
The thickly peoplcd industrial sections
IRE in want. Although food prices in
Vienna are three times normal, 10 ls
ttU possible 20 procure supplies do
far OF districts almost as cheap.y and
easily as IN times OF peace.
Nddlemen ExtOrt Profits
The government regulations have
been far from successful in many ie-
spects. although thus far they have
served 20 keep in reserve supplies
which ultimately will be available. In
the mean time. however. the public is
having a terrific cost for this system
In the form Of extortion practised by
unscrupulous middlemen, whom the
government IN most cases has been un-
able TO reach owing 20 the fact That
tney have powerful Vienna banks be-
hind them.
The efforts OF the government to
punish those who have driven up food
prices has resulted IN demand for
investigation OF the aristOcratic landed
class. which is charged with using war
conditions TO pront financially some
q the charges appear well founded.
Emperor Shows Courage
Emperor Charles is taking n per
fonal interest IN this affair. He has
\ demonstrated recently that in addition
10 eagerness for work, he has au un-
usual amount Of courage, Gs was shown
several days ago. when he summarily
adjourned the Hungarian Parliament
owing 10 the ObStfcperous tactics OF
the Opposition.
Emperor Charles also takes the
greatest interest in agriculture and re-
alizes, it is said, that not the soil or
weather conditions are responsible for
the short crops, but lack OF labor. Two
years Of farming by old men. women
and children have shown that labor is
the greatest factor lu agriculture. and
the Emperor is now insisting that ma
ehinery be used wherever possible.