Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-04-06
MOVE FOR PEACE
MADE BY AUSTRIA
Official Documents Show
That Premier Clemen-
ceau Told Truth
PUBLISHED BY FRANCE
Other Attempts to Begin Par
leys at Kaiser's Behest Are
Shown in Statement
Paris, April G.

IdTlS, April o.
Premier Cemenceau's denial Of
the truth Of the assertion of Foreign
Minister Czernin, that a conversation
concerning peace had been held be.
tween Austria and France, was given
confirmation in an official statement
issued by the Government.
Premier Clemenceau. upon assum-
ing the duties of president of the coun-
ell, found that conversations had been
entered into in Switzerland, upon Aus.
tria's initiative, between Count Rever-
tata. a personal friend of Emperor
Charles, and Commandant Armand, of
the Second Bureau, French general
staff, designated for that purpose by
the French minister at that time.
M. Clemenceau did not wish TO as
sumo the responsibility Of interrupt
ing conferences which had yielded no
results, but which might furnish use.
ful sources of information. Com.
mandant Armand thus was allowed to
continue his journey in Switzerland,
upon the request Of Count Revortata.
Instructions were given NJ. Armand
in the presence Of his chiCt by. NJ
Clemenceau as follows, Listen and
say nothing
eCount Revertata. becoming con-
WINGED that his attempt 10 bring about
q German peace was doomed to fail
ure. in order fully to characteri2e ms
mission, gave COnmanddnt Armand q
I. letter written in his own hand dated
February %, 1913, the first sentence
of which reads:
Austria Took Lead
"'During the month of August, 1871,
with a view to obtaining from the
French Government a proposition to
Austria which might lead to future
peace and be of such II nature AS to be
susceptible of being indorsed by Aus
tria and presented TO the German
Government, conferences have been
entered upon
Count Revertata, being himself the
solicitor. Acknowledged in the follow
ing terms: That the purpose was to
obtain from the French Government
propositions of peace, under cover OIL
Austria, for transmission to Berlin.
''Such is the fact established by am
authenticated document which Count
sCzernin has dared to refer to in n"
following terms: Clemenceau. shortly
before the beginning of the offensive
whether l was ready to enter upon
negotiations and upon what basis
In speaking thus not only he did not
tell the truth, but told the opposite
of truth, which in France Is termed
flying.
cit is but natural that Premier
Clemenceau should be unable To re
strain his Indignation when Count
Czernin, justly anxious as 20 the tinal
consequences of the western offensive,
reversed the rules with such audaCity,
representing tine French Government
q begging for peace at the very mo-
knent when, with our allies. we were
preparing for the infliCtiUn Of a su
preme defeat upon the Central EN-.
pires.
Again Begged for Farley
1T would be too easy TO recall to
what extent Austria has impOrtuned
Rome, Washington and London with
solicitations for an alleged separate
peace which had no other aim than to
slip upon US the yoke which she pro-
fe5ses to find 10 her taste. Who does
not know the story of a recent meet
ing lin Switzerland, of Courso) of a
former Austrian ambassador and "A
figure high in the councils Of the
Entente Allies?
THE conferences lasted only q few
minutes. Here again il was not our
ally who sought the interview. II
was the Austrian Government. Does
not Count Czernin remember an at
tempt of the sort made in Paris and
London only two months before that
Of Count Revertata by person OF
much higher rank? There again, as
in the present case. unauthentiC, but
much plore significant, proof exists D