The Washington herald., 1918-03-01
WHITE HOUSE
CONFERS UPON
HUN SITUATION
Belief Prevails Wilson May
Renew Diplomatic Drive
on German Unrest.
AUSTRIA WAR WEARY
Kaiser's S Ally May Furnish
Key to End of
War.
WAR WEARY

President Wilson, Secretary Lam
sing and Col. Edward NJ. House
spent two hours in conference at
the White House yesterday. This is
accepted as presaging the prompt
renewal of President Wilson's dipIo-
matte drive against the central pow
ers.
Little doubt is felt in Washing
ton that the President will soon be
enabled to present to the world a
sketch of the present situation
which will still further widen the
breach between Germany and Aus
tria-
: word OF caution from French
official sources was uttered yester-
day against accepting the evidences
of split between Berlin and Vienna
as final or conclusive. That a split
| in popular sentiment exists and is
apparently widening is admitted.
But. it is pointed out. German con-
4trol of the Vienna government and
OF the Austrian army is weIl-nigh
complete. No manifestation Of the
popular will in Austria can be ef-
fective without the aid of the army.
Germany undoubtedly is so dispos-
! ing of the Austrian army as to make
tits infection with the popular will
to peace as ineffective as possible.
New Developments.
While awaiting a copy of the off,
| cial text of Won Hertling's speech
! these developments seem to lay them
/ selves ready for the Presidents treat
\ ment:
1.-The Austrian aversion to further
fighting in the cause OF German con-
quest has been made manifest. The
President, it is believed. will so
sketch the German aggression against
Russia as to fan this fame.
Pin Germany itself the majority
Socialists have again shown heir tn
willingness to abide by the govern
n1ent's Russian policy. Under the
' Presidents handling it is predicted
that this policy will be made even
more distasteful to the liberals of
Germany.
| 3-The wide margin between German
performance and German promise par
ticularly in the Russian events of the
last few days is counted on to illu-
mine another text by the President
for a responsible German government.
The results Of Austrian disaffection
with the German program was the
chief topic of conversation in diplo-
matte and military circles. Should
Austria drop out of the war as an
active participant it is estimated that
her detection would more than coun-
, terbalance the collapse of Russia.
Germany. it is believed. is counting
on Austrian troops to help her out
on the west front this summer.
Italy VIII stick.
In Italian circles the suggestion
I that Italy would also drop out of
the war when Austria ceased to
fight was generally repudiated.
Italy has a very real quarrel with
Germany and. Furthermore. Italy
appreciates that no settlement of
the war which does not involve the
defeat Of German militarism will
settle Italian affairs any more than
it will settle the affairs Of any other
European nation.
Suppose, for instance" said an
Italian diplomat yesterday, that
Austria should let Italy have
Trieste. Our possession of Trieste
would always be disputed by Ger
many"
This point of view was comment
ed upon as emphasizing the German
control over Austria. 1t is a mill
tary. political and economic control
according to the opinion of diplo-
mats here, which will enable Ger
many. as long as the present or
| ganization of the central powers
continues to dictate to her major
ally.
This state of affairs again recall
ed the report that President Wilson
believes that nothing short of revo-
luton within the central powers
can bring about a complete settle
ment of the war.
/ No one is predicting that a revo-
luton is Immediately probable. But.
! it is pointed out, all the revolution
, airy tendencies are manifesting
themselves in the central powers.
/ Nowhere is there any evidence of
| internal unrest within the entente.
| Under such circumstances. it is
| pointed out. all the advantage of
| further political discussion rests
with President Wilson and it is
predicted that he will fully exercise
that advantage.
I N -