The Washington times., 1918-10-08
VIENNA SAYS PEACE
NOTE IS CONSISTENT

VIENNA. Oct. s.-A supplement to
the Austrian peace appeal is pub
lished in the Vienna papers from we'll
Informed sources. In part 1t reads:
at is first to be emphasized that
his step by Austria-Hungary, Tur-
key and Germany is not to be re-
yarded as a decision taken suddenly
inder stress of military events. 1t
constitutes rather in the history OF
Jur peace policy the last link in the
chain of a logical and continual evo-
luton, regard being paid at the same
time to the latest internal political
developments in Germany. As is
known, the point of departure OF our
peace policy was Baron Burian's note
of December, 1916. The step then
taken was OF a very vague character.
The conditions were not described,
but only indicated in broad lines.
Pence without Indemnity.
I'm the course of the development
the conditions have become crystal
Ilzed. During February. March and
April expressions regarding a gen.
eral and just peace without anneXa-
tions or compensations came into cur
rency.
subsequently the Idea Of estAb-
fishing an international court of arbi-
tration and reduction OF armament
was discussed, and further, the prin-
ciple OF freedom of the seas was pro-
claimed. and finally the principle was
set forth that economic wars and eco
nonic oppression after the war must
be prevented. Out of these guiding
principles arose the present peace
program.
"AII these points. Il will be recalled.
were accepted by Count Germ, former
Austrian foreign minister. in speeches
and interviews as a suitable basis for
peace negotiations, and finally re-
man Reichstag, so that uniformity in
the conception OF the allies (Teutonic)
thereby found expression
Pope's Peace Note.
"Then followed the peace note OF
Pope Benedict whose proposals and
fundamental ideas were accepted by
us as forming an acceptable basis
Only President Wilson in his note of
January s, 1918, in his fourteen points
made proposals and proclaimed prin-
ciples which substantially accorded
with the program Of the central
powers.
Count Czernin and Count Won
Hertling described President Wilson's
proposals, apart from q reserve re-
garding certain points, as q suitable
basis for peace. The Austro-Hun-
garian delegations and the German
Reichstag have described their atti-
tude toward these proposals in a sim
liar manner. II should be noted also
that II was always President Wilson
who occupied himself with a concrete
peace program while the entente ad-
hered to its intentions OF conquest.
Then came Baron Burian's last pros
pect for a preliminary discussion by
the belligerent powers
Analyses PreEidenF5 Speech.
'SThe proposal was rejected by
President Wilson, not, however, with
the intention OF cutting of peace dis
cussions, because in his speech OF
81 he again reverted to II,
and in an objective manner set forth
the necessity of a just peace peace
that would not be one-sided, but just
to both sides, and thus fulfill the
principle OF high Justice to ALL
at the moment Of the proelama-
tion of this principle OF equal justice
for all parties II became clear that
1t was possible in this manner to
come near to attaining peace, because
the principle OF the elimination OF
any one-sided preference provides for
the solution OF q group of difficult
questions
"In the consideration of the fur
ther circumstance that, owing to the
internal political change in Germany,
certain difficulties were cleared out
OF the way, it became clear that a
uniform decision of the central pow
ers regarding peace could be ef- !
fected."