The sun., 1918-04-16
CHARLES PEACE
LETTER FORCES
MINISTER OUT
Retention in Cabinet Is In.
dicatiOn Of EmperOr's
Desire for Armistice.
BALFOCR KEEPS SILENT
Vienna Declares Missive Was
Forgery and Refuses to
Reply to France.
BALFOCR KEEPS SILENT

LONDON, April i5.-Tne seriousness Of
the strained relations between Germany
md Austria.IIungary. the two domi-
mating States Of the Central European
alliance. was emphasized to-day by the
announcement that Count Csernin. Aus
tro-Hungarian Foreign Minister. has re-
signed. The diplomatic crisis was not
without its dramatic qualities. although
{ Is easy to trace the causes which
led to It.
Publication BY tho French Govern
ment Of the futile peace appeal sent
out by Emperor Charles IN March Of
last year and the efforts OF the Emperor
and the Austrian Foreign office 10 ex-
plain this action to the satisfaction OF
the German junkers undoubtedly placed
the Minister in an impossible position.
Although the resignation has been ac-
cepted. Count Csernin will remain in tho
Cabinet until his successor Is chosen
A further indication Of the supposed
leaning toward peace on the part Of
the Austrian monarch 10 seen In this
announcement.
In q reply to a question in the House
Of Commons to-day as to whether Great
Britain was aware that President Poin-
care had in his possession Emperor
Charles's letter = year ago. when Brit.
AIN refused to consider peace neEotia-
tions. especially kerensky's proposals..
Arthur J. Balfour. Secretary for For.
eign Affsirs. Aaid that the Government
hsd eonaidsTsd The subject and had DE-
cided that II was not In the pubilN In.
terest to discuss II In any form IN the
House Of Commons At present. Hs ap-
pealed TO the questioner not to push
the matter further.
Letter IL Called Forgery.
An official statement from Vienna
asserts that the latest statements Of the
French Premier. NJ. Ciemenceau, con-
cern!ng the conversations between Aus
tr.a and France regarding the possibil-
ity Of opening peace negotiations do not
alter the situation as regards the ma
jorIty Of Count Czernin's declarations.
The Austrian Foreign Ministry. the
statement says. Is unable TO ascertain
who was responsible for delivering to
the French what Is said TO have been
a forged letter. substituted for the letter
which was to be delivered.
Neither Prince Sixtus, whose charac-
ter IL beyond suspicion. TOR any ono
else 10 accused OF fals.hcation. continues
the statement. which concludes: The
affair Is herewith declared to be at
An end"
Count cxernin did not know o: Em-
peror Charles's letter to Prince S.xtus
when he made the statement that
France had initiated tho conversations
with Austria, according to q Vienna
despatch to the Lokold nxetger OF Berlin.
On learning Of the letter ne resigned.
but yielded to a request that he remain
in office until the conclusion Of the
peace agreement with Ruman!a-
Diplomatic Arc Interested.
News Of the resignation led to much
discussion among officials and diplomats
as to the causes which brought about
tho exit Of the Austrian official at a
moment when through hts decided
change OF attitude toward war Issues.
involving his complete acceptance Of the
extreme German views. It had been
supposed that no had strengthened his
position.
This change was manifested soon after
tho Brest-L!tovsk peace conferences.
wherc Czernin had become convinced
that his moderate views regarding the
basis Of peace were unacceptable to the
dominant annexation and forced indem-
nifty party. Therefore officials are In
'clined to believe that II was not alto
;gether because the Count was obnoxious
to Austria's great ally that ne was
forced out OF Office. but that the ex-
PLANTATION was to be found In part N
internal Austro-Hungar!an issues.
It Is recognised that Csernin involved
Emperor Charles In a most unplea SAINT
position by his speech trying to fasten
upon France tho responsibility for
initiating peace proposals last year.
thereby enabling the French Govern
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