New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-04-12
Paris Publishes Letter, Ex-
istence of Which Aus
tria Denies
Charles Wished
To Sound England
He Would Support Frances
Just Claims, His Note
Declared


"Once caught in the cogwheels of
lying, there IS no means of stopping
Emperor Charles, under Berlin's eye,
is taking on himself the lying denials
of Count Czernin, and thus compels
the French government to supply the
proof. Herewith is the text Of an
autograph letter communicated on
March 81, 1917, by Prince Sixtus De
Bourbon, the Emperor of Austria's
brother-i law, to President Poincare,
and communicated Immediately, with
the princes consent, to the French
Premier:
"'My dear Sixtus: The end of the
third year of this war, which has
brought so much mourning and grief
into the world, approaches. All the
peoples of my empire are more closely
united than ever in the common de-
termination to safeguard the integrity
of the monarchy at the cost even Of
the heaviest sacrifices.
"'Thanks to their union. with the
generous cooperation of all nationali-
ties, my empire and monarchy have
succeeded in resisting the gravest as
saults for nearly three years. Nobody
can question the military advantages
secured by my troops, particularly in
the Balkans.
Praises French Army
"'France, on ner side, las shown
force, resistance and dashing courage
which are magnificent. We all unre-
servedly admire the admirable bravery
which is traditional to her army and
the spirit of sacrifice of the entire
French people.
Therefore it is special pleasure
for me to note that, although for the
moment adversaries, no real diver
gcnce of views or aspirations separates
many of my empire from France, and
that l am justified in hoping that my
keen sympathy FOR France. joined to
that which prevails in the whole mon-
archy, will forever avoid return Of
the state of war, for which no respon-
! sibility can fall on me.
Comedies Lorraine Claims
"With this in mind, and to show in
a definite manner the reality of these
feelings, l beg you to convey privately
and unofficially to President Poincare
that l will support by every means,
and by exerting all my personal infu-
ence with my allies, Frances just
claims regarding Alsace-Lorraine.
"'Belgium should be entirely reestab-
lished in her sovereignty, retaining
entirely her African possessions with
out prejudice to the compensations she
should receive for the losses she has
undergone Serbia should be reGstab-
llshed in her sovereignty, and as a
pledge Of our good will, we are ready
to assure her equitable natural access
to the Adriatic and also wide economic
concessions in Austria Hungary.
"'On her side we will demand, as pri-
mordal and essential conditions, that
Serbia cease in the future all relation
with and suppresses every association
or group whose political object aims at
the disintegration Of the monarchy,
particularly the Serbian political So
ciety, Narodni Ochrana: that Serbia
! loyalty and by every means in her
power prevent any kind of political
agitation, either in Serbia or beyond
her frontiers, in the foregoing direc-
ton. and gives assurances thereof un-
der the guarantee of the Entente Pow
crs.
""The events in Russia compel me to
reserve my ideas with regard to that
country until legal definite govern
ment is established there.
"sHaving thus laid my ideas clearly
before you, | would ask you In turn,
after consulting with these two pow
ers, to lay before me the opinion first
of France and England, with view to
thus preparing the ground for an un-
derstanding on the basis OF which OH
cial preliminary negotiations could be
taken up and reach a result satlsfac-
tory to all. -,
"'Hoping that thus we will soon be
able together to put limit TO the SUI,
ferings of so many millions OF men and
families now plunged in sadness and
anxiety. | beg to assure you OF my
"CHARLES.'
The note adds: "Count Czernin, hav-
ing recognized by his note OF April
the existence of this negotiation due
10 the initiative Of a parsonage OF a
rank far above his the Austrian gov
ernment is now summoned to give an