The sun., 1917-06-01
Emperor Charles. Opens
Reichsrat in Remarkable
Speech From Throne.
REFERS TO PEACE OFFER
Pledges Free Nationalitics to
Enjoy Equal Rights With
in Monarchy.

speech from the throne at the opening
or the Reichsrat at Vienna to-day. re-
ferring to the progress Of the war and
possibility OF peace. said.
Il declare shall always be the just
aHectionate anc conscientious ruler OF
my dear peoples In the sense of the con-
stitutional idea which we have taken
over as a heritage from our forefathers
and In the spirit of that true democracy
which during the storms OF world war
has wonderfully stood the ordeal Of fire
IN .he achievements OF the entire people
at home and at the front
We are still in the midst of the
mightiest war of all times Let me.
from your midst. with thankful heart
oner my imperial greeting to all the
heroes who for nearly three years on
our far flung fronts have loyalty dis
charged the heavy duty, and on whose
Iron resistance between the Alps and
the Adriatic the renewed desperate
enemy attack even now is breaking TO
pieces.
Denies Precipitating Conaict.
Our group of Powers did not seek the
sanguinary trial Of strength Of this
world war. Aye, more than that, II has.
from the moment when. thanks to the
imperishable achievements of our armies
and fleets, the honor and existence of
our States no longer appeared seriously
threatened. openly and without ambigu-
ity made known its readiness for peace,
guided by the firm conviction that the
true formula Of peace can only be found
IN the mutual recognition that the posi-
tions have been gloriously defended.
THE future life of the peoples should
in our view. remain free from animosity y
and thirst for revenge. and for genera :
tions there should be no need to employ
what may be called the last resource OF
the State. But this high aim of human
ity can only be attainable by such a
conclusion TO the war as will correspond
TO that peace formula"
Looks ts Russia for Peace.
The great neighboring people to the
east to whom old friendship united us. is
gradually becoming conscious of its true
aims and tasks. and it lately appears to
approach this standpoint and seek from
an obscure impulse a direction OF policy
which will save the treasures Of the fu-
ture before they have been devoured by
a senseless war policy. We hope that In
the interest OF humanity this process OF
internal reformation will manifest itself
extremely In "a strong development OF
will and that such enlightenment OF the
public mind will also extend to the other
enemy countries
"While our group Of Powers Ia lighting
with irresistible force for honor and ex-
istence. II is and remains toward every
one who honestly abandons the Intention
to threaten us. readily prepared to cease
hOstiltties, and whoever wishes to reopen
better and more human relations will
certainly hnd our side ready In q con.
eiiiatOry spirit. In the meantime, how
ever. our fighting spirit will not relax ;
our sword will not become blunt.
''ln true cooperation with our old ally
the German Empire and the allies whom
our just cause won during the war. we
sary by arms, a good end to the war
which we would like to be able to at
tribute to victory OF reason
The Emperor. after affectionately re-
calling the memory of Emperor Franci.
Joseph. said Summoned in a fatefu
time to direct the State. l from the be.
ginning have been conscious of the i'm
mense seriousness OF the task Provi
dence has laid on my shoulders. | feel
however, within me the will and
power loyalty to discharge my duties a.
IOiOWlus tuc cAdHlplc VI MY Illus
,trious predecessor. and to do Justice
with Gods help, to by sublime Office.
Pledges Respect for Liberty.
THE interests of the State shall nc
longer be deprived Of that effective
furtherance which Jealous cooperation
Of a popular assembly, rightly conpre.
hending its power and judiciOus and
Conscientious. can provide. l have sum,
moned you. honorable gentlemen, tc
exercise your constitutional activity, and
l heartily welcome you to-day on the
Inauguration Of your work.
',In full consciousness Of the constitu,
tfonal duties taken over from my illus.
trlous predecessor. and from my OWL
deepest conviction, desire solemnly to
declare to you my unalterable will tC
exercise my right as ruler at all times In
a truly constitutional spirit and to re-
spect inviolably liberties according tc
the fundamental law and to preserve un'
abridged to the people that share In the
preyailing Constitution provides for
TN the loyal cooperation by my peo
pls and its representatives I see support
for the success Of my activity, and
think that the welfare of the State
whose glorious existence had been main
tained in the storms OF a world war b,
the nrm cohesion of its citizens. cannot
in times of peace be more securely
rooted than I'm the unassailable right!
of mature. patriotic and free people.
Warns Against Innovations.
Mindful OF my obligation to the Con
stitution and adhering to my intention
expressed Immediately on my accession
TO fulfil this obligation freely. must a
the same time keep IN mind the proyi
sions of the fundamental law which
place in my hands alone the decisions
to be taken at the great moment OF tn,
conclusion of peace.
"T am, however, convinced that a
happy development OF our constitutions
life after the unfruitfulness Of the pas
Years and after the exceptional politica
conditions Of war tme-apart from tn,
solution Of the Galiciar question. fol-
which my illustrious predecessor has al
ready indicated the way-is not possibl,
without expanding the Constitution ant
| the administrative foundations Of tn,
lwhole of our public, life. both IN tn,
state and in the separate Kingdoms and
countries. especially In Bohemia.
| ~ trust that, recognition OF your Sc
rious responsibility for the formation o.
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