Fort Mill times. [volume] (Fort Mill, S.C.) 1892-current, 1918-04-18
COUNT CzERN|N
HAS RESIGNED
AUSTRIAN PREMIER GIVES UP
HIS OFFICE At REQUEST
OF GERMANY.
THOUGHT POSITION BETTER
However, He Had involved Emperor
Charles In Most Unpleasant POSI-
tion-Cxechs In Revolt.

Coincident with the report OF the
acceptance OF the resignation of
count Czernin. the Austro- Hungarian
premier. comes report OF a serious
outbreak OF the Czechs at Prague.
which for many months has been re.
ported to be seething with anti-pan-
Germanism. Bohemiaus. or at least
the Czechs minority in that country.
OBJECT to the creation OF a German
government there. but the incident
may be more significant than has so
tar appeared. The Slavic races OF
bohemia have long been standing out
against the Germanization OF their
country and the outbreak at Prague
may be only another indication OF the
deep-seated opposition to the war as
pirations OF the central powers.
Washington.-News OF the resigna.
tion OF Count Czernin as Austro-Hun.
sarian foreign minister lead to much
speculation among officials and diplo.
mats here as to the causes which
brought about the rather dramatic
exit Of the Austrian Official at a mo.
ment when. through his decided
chang OF attitude toward war issues.
involving his complete acceptance or
the extreme German views. II had
been supposed that he had greatly
strengthened his position.
This change was manifested soon
after the BrestLitovsk peace confer
ences. where Czernin had become
convinced that his moderate views re.
garding the basis OF peace were up-
acceptable to the dominant annexa.
tion and forced indemnity party
therefore officials here are inclined
10 believe that IT was not because the
count was obnoxious to Austria's great
ally that he was forced out OF office.
but rather that the explanation was
to be found in internal Austro- Hun.
garian issues
Ii is recognized that Czernin in
volved Emperor Charles in a most
unpleasant position by his speech try
ing to fasten upon France the re-
sponsibility for initiating peace pro-
posals last year. thereby enabling the
french government to deliver mas
ter stroke In diplomacy by producing
the famous letter OF Charles to
Prince Sixtus. But quite aside from
the Sixtus letter. recent events In
Austria-Hungary have indicated that
Count Czernin's tenure might be
snort In the first place there was the
irightful suffering OF the population
and especially in Bohemia. from the
state OF semi-starvation for which thev
hello the government responsible be.
cause Ii would not make peace at
once. Then there was the bitter dis.
satisfaction OF the Poles and Czechs
over the REIMBURSEMENT OF the rich
country OF Cholm to the Ukraine as
one OF the conditions OF the Bre.t.
Litovsk peace. Finally there was ths
concentrated hatred OF the foreign
minister by the anti-German element,
OF the Austrian confederation because
or his relapse into extreme conserya-
tism and his adoption OF the pa,.
German program in its entirety, with
all OF It's reactionary policy.
II Is understood Emperor CharIe,
himself still has liberal leanings and
Is disposed to moderation SO far as
war Is concerned. IT Is conceived that
ne might easily be inclined to rid
himself OF an official so unpopular
with a large part OF the Austro- Hun.
garian population.
IL has been known. too. for long
time that the count has been a sick
man and that he has often shown
signs OF distraction and has manv
times been near the point OF absolute
physical collapse as the result OF his
strenuous efforts to. maintain control
OF 'he widely discordant element. that
m.ke up the dual empire.