The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-10-23
1881 SUMTER s. G., WEDNESDAY,, OCTOBER 3d. 1918
REPLY TO AUSTRIA.
SUBJECT NATIoNAIII1Es MUST
BE MADE FREE NATIONS.

SUBJECT NATIONAIII1Es MUST
BE MADE FREE NATIONS.
Conditions Which Central Powers
Must Meet to End War Again Plain
Iy Stated.
Washington, Oct. 19.-On the eve,
apparently, of the coming & the peace
note from Germany, President Will
son has rejected the plea Of Austria
Hungary for an armistice and peace
negotiations and in doing SO has maoe
clearer the conditions which the Cen
tral Powers must meet to end the
war.
IN a note written yesterday and
made public soon after it was Eell
on the way to Vienna today, the pies
ident in effect says there can be nc
talk of peace with the Austro-Hun- n
earian government except upon the
basis of complete libert'' for Czecho-
Slovaks and other subject natlonah-
ties as free members of the family OF
nations. He refuses to entertain the
Austro Hungarian suggestion for thls
reason, without discussing the mill
tarv questions dealt with in the re-
ply to Germany.
The Vienna government asked tor
negotiations on the basis OF the pres
ident's announced program Of peace
mentioning the speech Of January 3,
last. In which the president said the
peoples of Austria-Hungary should be
accorded the freest opportunity TOT
autonomous development. The reply
! saws this is impossible; that the
Czecho- -Siovaks national council mas
been recognized as a defacto beil1Ser-
ent government, the justice OF the ma
tiona1istic aspirations Of the Juso-
Slovak has been recognized and mere
autonomy no longer can be accepted
This declaration, which may be far
reaching in, its effect upon Austria
Hungary where long ensiaved: -peo-
pies apparently are nearly ready to
sweep away the hated Dual Monarchy
and the Hapsburg dynasty, clears up
what some critics Of the presidents
policy have pointed to as a source OF
endless controversy in his program OF
peace. 1t comes. one. day after the
proclamation Of Emperor. Charles fed-
eralizing the. Austrian States in a. des'
perate effort to save his government
i at home and at the same time prepare
+ the wayfor peace. =
Though not mentioned by name, the
:. Poles. .Rumanians and members So'
other distinct races held under Aus:
trian domination. come within ,tnf
protection of. self-determinationz tf
which America and the allies are
contnitted.; The Austrian Poles wan
to Join an independent Poland; tn
/: Austrian-Ru1nanians long for, reunion
with Rumania, and there is no douo
here that their hopes will DE futile!
:. when the peace conference is held.
The text of President Wilson's not
in reply. to Austria Hungary follows
...sir: I have the honor to acknowl
edge the receipt Of your note OF IN
seventh instant. in which you transml
comm unication of the Imperial an
Royal Government of Austria Hun
gary to the president. I am now in
structed by the president to. reques
you to be good enough through yot
: government to convey to the lmperls
$ and Royal government, the folio"
ing reply: \
! 1.-The president deems it his dut
1 to say to the Aus1ro-Hungarian go1
ernn ent that he cannot entertain tn
present suggestion;s of that govern
memo because Of ceEtain events OF u
most Importance (which, occurrln
since the delivery pf his address
the 9Th of January last, has nece'
sacily altered the latitude and r.
sponsibility of the Eernment of tf
United States. Among\ the fourtee
terms of peace which he presfdel
formulated at that time osicurred IL
following:
"The peoples of A',striaf Hungal
whose place among the NATIONS "
wish to see safeguarded and pssure'
should be accorded the freestSt2ppo'
tunity of autonomous developments
Since that sentence was writtei
and uttered to the congress OF IN
United States the government OF tn
f United States has recognized tHdt
5 state of belligerency exists between
y the Czecho-Slovaks and the Austro
Hungarian Empires and that tn
Czecho- -Slovak council is defact
( Eelligerent government clothed will
proper authority to direct the mill
] tary and political affairs of tn
Czecho-Slovaks.
1T has also recognized in the full
est manner the justice Of the nation
alistic aspirations of the Jugo-Slo
, vaks for freedom.
1.-The president is, therefore, NJ
longer at liberty to accept the mer
autonomy Of these peoples as basi
of peace but is obliged to- insist tha
they, and not he. shall be the judge
OF what action on the part Of tn
Austro-H Hunga rian government vii
satisfy the aspirations and their con
y acts syH. a