The Fargo forum and daily republican., 1918-02-02

berment frees her also from Ger
man political control. The, victory
of the Upper Isonzo, the defeat of
Italy. whatever it did to allied hopes
in the war. actually set Austria free
from German leading strings, so far
as foreign affairs we're concerned.
Austria Needs Peace,
Now Austria needs peace even
more than Germany; she has suffer-
ed more, both by invasion and, pro-
portionately If not absolutely, in
casualties. Her economic and
industrial condition, bad when the
war came, has suffered far more than
the better organized German fabric,
, and whatever be. the state of Ger
man finances Austria Is approximate
ly ruined, and may be permanently
ruined IL the war continues for more
months, and even years. Moreover,
the masses of Slav populations in
Austria, half of the population, are
beginning to be permeated with
Russian revolutionary doctrines,
while domestic distress and disorder
are increasing.
Again, on the political side Austria
is Joined to Germany in a marriage
of convenience rather than OF real
affection. Austrian necessities have
EOhA HGtANn &A0@AAAa 10 AA&N - AAh&hA&Aest
ing role for many years, but Austria,
speaking of the ruling classes, had
an old and honorable history, looked
at merely from the side OF power
and influence in European affairs, for
centuries before Prussia came to
supremacy in Germany, after defeat
ing Austrian armies at Sadowa, a
scant haf-century ago.
Threatened on the one side by
Russia. and on the other by Italy, the
Hapsburgs have had no choice but
to march with and under the Hohen-
zollernss but they have not enjoyed
the thing and they have not failed
on occasion to give evidence of their
resentment, while Bismarck and his
successors have hardly concealed
their contempt for the ruling family
in Austria. But today Russia has
collapsed and Italy has been defeat
ed; Austria has nothing to fear out
side of her frontiers; her sole fears
come from within, where domestic
discomfort is mounting, and from her
German ally, who still demands
provinces and prizes OF the war, and
thus prolongs the exhausting con-
test.
Drifting From Germany.
In this situation is il too much to
believe that despite all exaggerations
we are beginning to see the drift of
Austria away from Germany? For
months there has been new tone in
Austrian newspapers, a certain tone
of independence In the declarations
Of Austrian statesmen. and the whole
German press has revealed its i'm
patience and Indignation with the
evident willingness OF the Austrians
to make peace before Germany has
attained her war aims To be sure,
it smacks of ingratttude for Austria
to refuse to support Germany now,
when she owes her existence to re-
peated rescue expeditions Of German
armies in all the past dark days OF
the struggle; but when were nations
grateful to their allies? When, too,
did even an official readiness to make
proper return for past favors prevail
over domestic danger?
Let US discount these Austrian
rHmors as much as possible-they
are certainly premature and they are
probably exaggerated; but none the
less we are bound to recognize that
the prolongation OF the war has q
different meaning for the German
than for the Austrian. Austria has
achieved her ends. at a horrible, per-
haps q fatal, cost and her only
immediate aim now is peace. She
can gain no more; she can lose much
in money IL not in life IL the struggle
is prolonged. Will she, then, for
many months continue to fight and
to suffer solely for German ends, 10
obtain tfor Germany the Courland or
the Lithuanian lands? 1t seems un-
likely If the danger OF domestic
is a consequence.
nr Avsr ra@ IA nv
SO far been held together. except in
the case OF Russia, which has col
iapsed internally, because of the
equal peril to all the partners or the
German program and the German
The alliance of the CEN
trail powers has been held together
by the fact that Austria. Bulgaria
and Turkey could not defend them
selves against immediate perils or,
in the case Of Bulgaria, attain ma
tional ends without German aid
Germany exercised complete military
control in all the councils Of the CEN
trail powers, because II German com
mands were not obeyed German 1
troops could be recalled and then |
ruin would follow.
Austria Does Not Need Germany. |
But this situation no longer en-
durea Austria does not need Ger
man military aid; she viii not need |
It again, unless. as seems now un-
likely, Italy shall be in q position to |
destroy Austrian forces next sum- |
mer. Therefore Austria is bound to /
look more and more to her own fn-
terests, which are not those OF the 1
Germans. She does not care TO see I
Germany annex large portions Of !
Russia; her own domestic situation
will not be improved IL she anne1ss /
ten OF twelve million Poles, for this /
viii but give the Slav an overWhelm- I