New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-05-11
Empress Zita in
Revolt; Denounces
Hohenzollern War
Her Influence Appears in the
Growing Estrangement
of Austria
By ISAAC DON LEVINE

Austria's reported peace move is .
further step in the direction Of the
disintegration OF the Central Powers,
which was postponed by the recent
visit Of the Austrian Emperor and
Empress to the Hohenzollerns.
At that visit, it was reported. En-
press Zita played a prominent role,
speaking loudly and energetically
against the continuation of the war.
She declared that both the Hohenzol-
lern and Hapsburg dynasties were
standing on the crater Of a dangerous
volcano. Originally, only Emoeror
Charles was to 90 to the kaiser's head
quarters, but the young Empress in
sisted upon accompanying him, for the
purpose of speaking her mind to the
German Emperor and Empress.
Her plea, however, fell upon deaf
ears. The Germans advanced a number
OF arguments to convince Empress Zita
that the position of the Central Powers
was very promising. In Germany it was
considered that the Austrian imperial
couple were converted to the views OF
the Prussians, bpt in Austrian court
circles it was not believed that the cpl
sode was finished, as Empress Zita pos
sesses a very determined character and
she wields great influence over her
husband.
Soon afterward friction between
Austria and Germany again developed.
The Emperor's decision to convoke the
Reichsrat. where the Slavs have ma
jority, provoked a storm of criticism
in Germany. The "Frankfurter Zeit-
ung." for instance. plainly said that
Germany does not look with any favor
on any concession to the Slav element
in the Dual Monarchy.
The Hamburger Fremdenblatt' was
even more outspoken. il contemptu-
ouslv called the Austrian Foreign Min
ister. Count Clam -Martinitz, who is a
Czech by birth, that "feudal noble OF
Bohemia" 1t complained that the
minister was not always "a true Pala-
din Of his Ksiserly overload"
Even more characteristics, on the
Austrian side, was the denunciation by
the "Zeit," the second most important
paper in Austria. of PanGermans in
connection with Brazil's rupture OF
diplomatic relations. "It was not until
after the war had begun" said the
paper, that we realized how much
the Pro-Germans, with their political
lunacy. injured Germany throughout
the world. Their reckless plans Of an
nexation were carefully watched in
those countries which the Pan-Germans
designated as future German posses
sions."
This attack on the Pan-Germans was
three times prohibited for publication
by the censorship, and it was after
strenuous efforts that the "Zeit' Sc
cured permission to publish the article.
IL is evident that a true realization
of conditions is steadily permeating
the Austrian and Hungarian mind. The
Dual Monarchy is beginning to see
that il has nothing TO win from an
alliance which practically amounts to
a vassalage. On the other hand. there
arc signs that the Allies would now be
willing to conclude a separate peace
with Austria on conditions that would
home rule TO the several
making up the Austrian
empire.
Austria had hoped for peace with
Russia through the Socialists. But the
Austrian Socialist delegation 10 Scandi-
navia proved hasco. Austria made it
known next that she was ready TO aban-
don Bulgaria and Turkey, but Russia
would not treat with Austria alone.
The Swiss mission may, therefore,
mean only development of the Aus
,ran strivlngs for peace, encouraged
by the new Russia, which certainly will
avail itself Of any reasonable peace
TO isolate Prussia and bring
about universal peace.