Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-05-07
reasons for Action

The premier then recommended the
postponement of parliament.
The Weiner Zeitung publishes the
following statement of reasons for tho
adjournment of parliament:
I'VE are in the last decisive phrase
of the war. No enemy any longer
threatens in the east, but in firm union
with Germany and our other allies. we
must force our other opponents also to
renounce their hostile intentions. De-
spite one or two promising tendencies,
parliament has been unable to find a
stable policy. AS things are, the re-
sumption Of the sittings of parliament
would not facilitate the position. but
would only sharpen political antagonism
and thereby endanger the fulillment of
those economic tasks on the successful
solution of which everything depends.
Until the reassembly of parliament,
which will take place at the soonest
possible moment, the government will
devote its entire strength to the econom-
ic problems of the day, especially to
the task of arranging for the nations
food supply, and will try in every way
to create conditions which are required
to enable the population to hold out.
At the same time it will zealously en-
deavor to utilize and develop existing
possibilities of an understanding be-
tween parties, so that after the reas-
sembly of parliament the country may
enjoy anew an unhindered constitution
al life
Austria has been deep in difficulties,
both political and economic, for moro
than a year, and it has been an open Sc
cret that Emperor Charles was DESTROYS
of bringing about peace, his efforts in
this direction having occasionally
aroused criticism in Berlin.
In the last few months there have
been insistent reports that the food sit
uation in Austria was growing des-
perate.
The political situation also has grown
disturbing in the last few months.
There have been riots in various parts
Of the country, andamongthe south
ern Serbs a revolutionary movement
has been in progress recently.
Famine Threatened
Famine during the winter was said
to have been prevented only by the ac-
cession of $4,000 carloads of grain from
Rumania, but even this was INSULT
Client. a. was evidenced by food riots
in Prague, Pilsen, Brun and Vienna.
In some of the prison camps of Aus
tria the death rate from starvation was
reported to have reached 40 a day.
The separate peace with the Ukraine
failed to relieve the situation on account
or the dl1tlcultleS or transportation
and the fact that some of the active
divisions of the ech-Slovak troop
took along everything they could lay
hands on in their retreat.
The opinion here, however, is that
the food situation alone could not jus.
tify the government in dissolving par
lament Czech papers predicted a
month ago that the Fienniese govern
ment contemplated a dissolution of the
parliament and a return of the abso-
lutist era which prevailed during the
first three years of the war.
Even since the convocation of the
reichstag a year ago the Slav deputies
have shown decided opposition to the
governments policies, hampering it IT
increasing the army and raising loans.
United action, however, was lacking
and the government was able to retain
a majority in parliament.
Information reaching here now, how
ever. is that the Czech, Jugo-Slav and
Polish deputies have formed a compact
block to oppose the policies of the Ger
manic Austrians. The adhesion of the
three elements into a cohesive grouT
would give them a majority, and fear
of this is believed to be the real rea-
son why Emperor Charles has ordered
| parliament dissolved.