Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-04-03
FOES.NEAR PEACE
SHORT WHILE AGO,
CzERNN ASSERTS
Says Frances Demand for
Alsace-Lorraine Barred
Negotiations.
THINKS ENTENTE POWERS
HOPED FOR A REVOLUTION
Insists Austria Hungary Wants to
End War, But Will Not De-
sert Germany.

BY the Associated Press.
PARIS, April 3-ACxernin Med.n
This IL all Premier Clemenceau had
to say when tola today Of the state
ment of Count Cxernfn that he had
Incurred through an Intermediary
whether rAustria-Hungary was ready
re negotiate and II % ON what basis.
~ the Associated Press.
LONDON, April e.-Austria- Hungary
was recently "almost on the point"
Of beginning peace negotiations with the
entente, Count Czernin, the Austro-
Hungarian foreign minister, declared
yesterday in an address to the Vienna
municipal council.
The wind suddenly veered," he added,
the entente deciding to await develop
ments in his country, which caused it
to hope that the dual monarchy would
soon be defenseless.->
Why Entente Held OF.
The foreign minister's words were:.
Recently we were almost on the
point of entering into negotiations with
the western powers. when the wind
suddenly veered around, and as we know
with certainty the entente decided 1t
had better wait. as parliamentary and
political events in our country justified
the hope that the monarchy would soon
be defenselessS
81 do not Intend to go begging for
peace or to obtain It by entreaties and
lamentations. but to enforce it by our
moral right and physical strength" |"
Count Czernin declared. ANY other tao
tics consider will contribute to the
prolongation Of the war"
In regard to Bulgariats claims against
Serbia the foreign minister said:
Bulgaria must receive from Serbia
certain districts inhabited by B1lgarians.
We, however. have no desire to destroy
Serbia We win enable Serbia to develop
tions with her. 2
Since / came into ONCE declared
fsount Cxernin. II have strivcu only
after one aim-namely, to secure IN
10 create = situation which win secure
to Austrfa-Hungary her future for free
everything possible to insure that this
'tme out Of mind. have never spoken
differently"
Says France Made Inquiry.
Some time before the western Of
ePremier C1emenceau Of France ad-
dressed to me an inquiry whether and
npou what basis was prepared to me-
gofiate- In agreement with Berlin /
Immediately replied that was prepared
10 negotiate and that as far as France
Eas concerned the only obstacle could
bee in the way OF peace was the French
eesire for Alsace-Lorraine. The reply
from Paris was that 1t was impossible
10 negotiate on this basis. Thereupon
there was no choice left
The colossal struggle in the west
has already begun. Austro- Hungarian
Ind German troops are fighting shoul-
Der to shoulder. as they fought in Rus
efa, Serbia. Rumanfa and Italy. We
ere fighting together for the defense Of
Austrta-Hungary and Germany. Come
Mhat may we will not sacrifice Ger
manys interests any more than she will
lsave us In the lurch We are not night
ing Tor imperialisttc or annexationistic
bins for ourselves or for Germany
The Austro-Hungarian foreign min
patch to the Daily Chronicie. dsclared
flso that he had an earnest desire for
Reecs ana that his country wished to
kvoid any further military offensive.
tssr re1srrdng e his reply 70 Premier
81 said fha3 lustria would insist on ta ne :
pfatus quot eddingt
Tn4 ASPIRATIONS IcS0tanoa ana italy
= utep!an. which viii be terribly
Austrfan Huler ssfor Peace.o
IA dispatch 20 the Exchange re,.-
kfaph from Amsterdam says that Count
Esernin said that with the signing OF
peace with Rumania an ffnportanf
part OF the war had been ended. RE-
Eardfng President Wilson's last ad-
cress. Count czernin said he did not
believe the President really desired I'D
eeparate Vienna from Berlin: that he
{cserninl had too good an opinion of
that. ~
President Wilson knew, Count cxer-
hin continued, that such a separation
was impossib1e. he probably saw that
Vienna was the more favorable Ground
FOR sowing seeds Of International peace
than Berlin. as Austria was Fortunate
IN the possession ef q ruler who was
attached to the ideals of peace, and
behind him were $4,000, 900 persons
sharing the view to which President
Wilson also was devoting his activities