New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-10-04
Disarmament After War
Demanded by Foreign
Minister
Freedom of Sea
Called Essential
Count Says Soldiers Should
Know Why War Does
Not End


patches received here say that at a
dinner given by the Hungarian Pre-
mier, DR.. Alexander Wekerle, in honor
Of Count CEernin. the AustroHun-
garian Minister of Foreign Affairs, the
latter, m reply TO an invitation to make
a statement concerning his peace pol
icy, said:
ITO Talleyrand has been ascribed the
SAYING that words are given to conceal
thoughts. il may be that this saying
was true for the diplomacy Of mis- cen
tury, but for the present time | hardly
can conceive phrase less accurate.
The millions who are lighting in the
trenches or behind the lines wish TO
know why and for what they are fight
ing. They have a right TO learn why
peace, which the entire world desires,
has not yet come. When | was sp-
pointed to my post | utilized the first
opportunity openly to declare that we
did not want to oppress any one, but
that. on the other hand, we would not
suffer any oppression, and that we were
prepared TO enter upon peace negotia-
tions as soon as our enemies accepted
the standpoint Of peace by agreement"
Wants War Aims Stated
Count Czernin said plain statement
of war aims was indispensable. He ex-
planned the conversion of the Central
Powers 10 the doctrine Of disarmament
by declaring that armsments were nee
esssry until the world was convinced
that Austria Hungary was not dying
state, subject to dismemberment.
In conclusion Count Czernin threat
ened that unless peace without annex
ations or indemnities were Immediately
accepted il would be necessary for Aus
tria- Hungary TO revise its programme
and seek compensation for further costs
of the war.
Arguing that competition in arma-
ments after the war would mean
economic ruin for ali states, and de-
claring that Austria Hungary had not
been prepared for war and had only
made up during the conflict for her
former neglected military equipment,
Count Czernin continued:
This war taught US that We must
reckon on great increase in former
armaments. With Unrestricted arms-
ments the nations would be compelled
TO increase tenfold everything and the
military estimates of the great powers
would amount to billions. That is i'm
possible. II would mean complete
ruin.
"To return to the armament status
but there would be no meaning in not
going further and actually disarming.
Hence complete disarmament is the
only issue from the difficulty.
Gigantic fleets will have no further
purpose when the nations Of the world
guarantee the freedom of the seas, and
land armies will be reduced to the
level required for the maintenance of
Internal order.
Every state will have 10 give up
something of its independence for the
purpose of insuring the world peace.
Probably the present generation will
not live to see the completion Of this
great pacific movement. 1t can only
be realized slowly. but | consider it
our duty to place ourselves at the head
Of the movement 10 do everything hu-
manly possible TO accelerate its mate
rislization."
Strongly emphasizing the necessity
for naval disarmament on the high seas.
Count Czernin said:
81 purposely say the high seas. for
do not extend the idea to narrow seas,
and freely admit that for sea communi-
cations special rules and regulations
must obtain. With these factors made
clear every ground for territorial guar
antees disappears. This is the basic
idea of the beautiful and sublime note
which the Pope addressed to the whole
world. II this basis is accepted by our
enemies We can renounce the enlarge
ment Of the Austro- Hungarian mon
archy. always provided that the enemy
completely evacuates our territory"
Ready to Work for Peace
This new competition which has
forced its way into the world war al
fords us the opportunity not only Of
accepting the idea Of disarmament and
arbitration, but also of working with
our whole energy toward its reali
zation. Europe after the war must be
placed on a basis of right, offering
guarantee of permanence.
This basis must offer security
against any future war Of revenge. We
must bequeath 10 our children's chill
dren AS legacy that they will be
.pared such a terrible war as this, and
that is only possible through dissrma-
ment and arbitration.
"The question of indemnities which
the Entente are always advancing as
sumes II remarkable aspect when one
considers the devastation their armies
have wrought in Galicia, Bukowina. the
Tyrol. the lsonzo, East Prussia, in
Turkish territories and the German
colonies. Does the Entente intend 10
us for all this. or is II so
completely mistaken in its judgment
of our Rychology that it hopes for
oneSided indemnifcation?
This war will not be decided with
high flown phrases. First We heard
that Germany WAS 10 be annihilated
and Austra-Hungary dismembered
Then the tone became more reasonable.
IL was TO be sufficient 10 reform our
internal conditions. Our enemies ap-
pear now TO be in the third phase.
They demand neither our life nor our
right TO decide our destinies as state.
but they demand more or less large
frontier rectifcations.
Further phases will follow. although
a majority of the population of all the
enemy countries already dehnltely take
their stand on the basis OF peace oy
agreement, which we were the first 10
propose six months ago.
I'VE do not seek strength IN Dig
words. but in our glorious armies, the
frmness Of our alliances, the steadlas',
ness of our people and the wisdom OF
our war aims. We can neither be oent
nor destroyed"
Germany denies offer Of sepd-
rate peoce 10 Britain or France, on