Norwich bulletin., 1918-09-16


 aelircrcnt governments to enter into non-hinding discussions at some neu- tral meeting place. the Austroz Hun garian government states that the oh- icct Of the conference would be to se- euro an exchange of views which would show whether those .prerequi- sites exist which would make the speedy inauguration of peace nego- liationy appear promising.
 The Austrian proposal. which is an- nounced in an official communication relegraphed here from Vienna, sug- gests that there be no interruption of tho war and that the discussion would 20 only so far as is considered ly the participants to offer prospects of success"
 The proposal calls for all the bel iigerents to send delegates for con rdcntial and unbinding discussion Of the basic principles for the conclusion of peace. in a place in a neutral coun- fry and at a near date that would yet have to be agreed upon"
 The proposal says the conference would be one Of delegates who would le charged to make known to one an other the conception of their govern mcnts regarding those principles and t1 receive analogous communications, e- well as to request and give frank and candid explanations on all those points which need to be precisely de- fined"
 The government announces that a 7ote embo3ying Its suggestions had been addressed to the various belliger- cnt powers and that the Holy See had been apprissd of the proposal in spe- cial note. The governments of the neutral states also had been made ac- Cuainted with the proposal.
 The text Of the official communica- ton reads:
 An objective and conscientious ex- animation of the situation of all the hcligereut states no longer leaves doubt that all peoples, on whatever sde they may be fighting. long for . srcedy end to the bloody struggle. De spite this natural and comprehensiblt desire for peace, it has not SO fal been possible to create those prelim. inary conditions calculated to brins the peace efforts nearer to realization and bridge the gap which at presen still separates the belligerents iron one another.
 "A more effective means must there fore he considered whereby the re snonsfhle factors of all the countrie: ran be offered an opportunity to in. Festigate the present possibilities O an understanding.
 The irst step which Austria Hun. gary. in accord with her allies, under. took. on December 12. 1916, for ths lringing about Of peace did not lead to the end hoped for.
 The grounds for this lay assured ly In the situation at that time. IT order Co maintain in their peoples thl war spirit. which was steadily declin ing, tho allied governments had b. the most severe means suppresse, even any discussion of the peace idea And SO it came about that the groun for a peace understanding was no properly prepared The natural tran sition from the widest war agitatic Co a condition Of conciliation wa lacking.
 Tt would, however, be wrong to be heve that the peace step we then too was entirely without result Its fruit consist Of something which is not { be overlooked-that the peace ques ton has not since vanished from th order of the day. The discussion which have been carried on before tn tribunal of public opinion have dis closed proof of the not slight differ ences which today still separate tn warrtng powers in their conception ( peace conditions.
 Nevertheless an atmosphere ha been created which no longer exclude the discussion of the peace problem.
 Without optimism, it at least as surcdly may be deduced from the ut terances of responsible statesmen ths inc desire to reach an understandin and not To decide the war exclusivel by force of arms is also Sr1duallv be rinning 10 penetrate into allied state save for some exceptions in the cas nH kFNaArN Trh ., certainly not 10 be estimated lightly
 The Austro- Hungarian governmel is aware that after the deep -reachir cu1vulsions which have been cause in the life Of the peoples Ey the q. vastating effects of the world war wIl not be possible to re-estab blish Ol der in the tottering world at a sing stroke The path that leads to u restoration of peaceSil relations b, tween the peoples is cut by hatred ar embitterment. IL is toi,some ar vycar1some, yet f. is our duty to trea this path-the path of negotiation and fl there are stI1l such responsib factors as desire to overcome the ol ponent by military means and to for the win to victory upon him. the can, nevertheless, no longer be dou that this aim. even assuming that is attainable, would first necessitate further sanguinary and protract, Etruggle.
 But even a later victorious pea Edn no longer be able to make got he consequences of such 2 policy consequences which will be fatdl ail the states and peoples of EuroT The only peace which could righreou ly adjust the still divergent conce tiCns of the opponents would be peace desired by all the peoples. Wi this consciousness, and in it's upswer ing endeavor to work in the interes or peace. the Austro- Hungarian go crnment now again comes forwa with a suggestion with the object bringing about a direct discussion b tween the enemy powers.
 The earnest will to peace of wi classes or the population of all t states who are jointly sufferil urochement in individual cortroversi ouesdons-as well as the more co ciii41ory atmosphere that is gener seem to the Austro- Hungarian go ernnuent to give e certain guarant that a fresh step in the interests peace, which also takes account past experiences in this domain. mig nt the present moment offer the DO sibility of success.
 The Austro Hungarian governme has therefore resolved to point out an the belliEerents. friend and fC a uath considered practicable by and to propose to them jointly to Q anime in a free exchange of vieV whether those prerequisites exi which would make the speedy inaug ration Of peace neEotiaticns appe promising. To this end, the Austr t>1DArian government has today i