The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1918-10-19
PRESIDENT ANSWERS
AUSTRIAN NOTE
CONTINUED rom page u

teen points in the message OF
President Wilson to congress OF
January 8, 1918. and the four
points contained in President
Wilson'S address on February IL.
1918, serve as the foundation and
In which the viewpoints declared
by President Wilson in his adj
dress of September 81, 1918. will
i also be taken into account"
Beginning Of the End.
| [By Raymond Clapper. United Pres!
Staff Correspondent
/ WASHINGTON, Oct 19.-Remou
ing of Austria-Hungary, with auton
omy and Austrian confederation prom
ised, comes too late.
| Representatives of the submerged
groups said today that the old mon
archy of the Hapsburgs must and vii
! be destroyed. AS proof Of its destined
disintegration they pointed to the
tCzecho-Slovak declaration OF indie
pendence" Just issued here, wherein
they proclaim a Czecho-Slovak democ
racy and refuse to remain part o.
| Austria longer.
Allied successes, 1t is held, assure
the fruition of this plan.
Czecho-Slovak leaders say the be
ginning of the end has come for Aus
tria- Hungary.
Duplicity was seen in Emperor
Charles announcement that he would
form a confederation Of Austrian ma
tionalities, a proposal which Is quite
at variance with President Wilson'S
principle OF complete freedom for
subject nationalities, which Austrfa's
last note pfofessed to accept
The Czecho-Slovak declaration OF
independence was handed to Presi-
dent Wilson only few hours after
press dispatches reported EErvror
Charles manifesto announcing his IN
tention to form an Austrian confed-
GRAFTON and to grant local autonomy
to all subject nationalities.
The declaration, signed by Profess
sor It. G. Masaryk, prime minister of
the provisional Czecho-Slovak govern
ment, points to a probable federation
Of the smaller central European ma
lions after they have won freedom
from Austria.
1--WE consider freedom to be the
first prerequisite for liberalization
and believe that the free nations OF
central and eastern Europe may cas-
fly federate should they find it neces-
sary," the declaration stated.
Czecho-Slovaks in Austria-Hungary
number 5000, 900, representatives here
declare.
Joining a defensive alliance with
Austria and Hungary against the
Turks several months ago, the Czecho-
Slovaks of Bohemia, Moravia and 81
lesia were made the victims of Haps-
burg encroachment later.
The indictment of the Hapsburgs is
bitter.
1--WE cannot and will not continue
to live under the direct or indirect
rule of the violators Of Belgium,
France and Serbia the wouldbe muir
derer of Russia and Rumania," the
declaration states.
The Czechs declare for acceptance
OF the ideals of democracy as laid
down In the American declaration Of
independence. Formation OF Czecho-
Sloyak democracy Is contemplated.
This state will guarantee complete
freedom of religion, speech and press
and the right of assembly and petit
ton. Church and state must be sep
arated, the declaration states.
Universal suffrage for men and
women, proportional representation to
safeguard national minorities with
parliamentary govern
ment under check OF an initiative and
provision, are the princi-
pies which viii be embodied in the
new government. Militia will re.
place the standing army.
The pre-war debt incurred by Aus
tria will be assumed. but the war
debt will be left to those who In
Cured it-Austrfa. Grants to the no
bility will be abolished and large es.
tates will be thrown open for home
In its foreign relations the new
democracy declares for open diplom
acy The principle Of nationality is
adhered to, but the Czecho-Slovak
state win expect TO accept its share
of responsibility in the reorganiza-
ton of eastern Europe.
Class legislation is prohibited and no
will be permitted to de-
velop.
Rumanians here issued statement
against anything less than
liberation of Rumanians
"This is the only solution that
would be in accord with the noble
prin ciples Of justice and national free
determination" the statement said.
Note Dated Yesterday.
WASHINGTON, Oct. 19.-Presi-
dent Wilson today moved to stimu-
late the process of dissolution now
under way in the Austro-Hungarian
empire.
In a note Of reply to the dual
appeal for peace the
president declared that more
autonomy grants are no longer suft1-
cient TO meet his basis for peace.
The declaration of independence by
the Czecho-Slovaks and allied recog-
milton Of the nationalistic Aspirations
Of the JugoSlavs OF freedom, he said.
makes it impossible for him TO abide
by his original autonomy proposal
and the oppressed peoples of the en-
pire must be judges now of what
action by the monarchy will satisfy
them.