Evening star., 1918-01-22
Workers Desperate Owing to
Lack of Food and General
War WEAKNESS.
MINISTRY HAS QUIT,
SAYS ONE DISPATCH
Emperor Charles Desires to End Con.
filct at Earliest Possible Moment,
Won Seydler Declares.
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press
LONDON, January 22-Austria- Hun
gary's cry for peace, accompanied ap-
parently by condition of incipient
revolt, is featured by the morning news
papers as fact that is hurrying the
dual monarchy to a crisis. Long dis
patches from Amsterdam show that the
workers have become desperate because
Of lack of food and general war weari.
ness
Socialists Encouraged.
There is an evident connection Of
the strike movement with the negotia-
tions at Brest-Litovsk, which have en-
couraged the socialists to insist that
the war shall not be prolonged merely
for the purpose of territorial aggres-
sion.
While most newspapers here attach
the greatest Importance to the up
heaval and some infer that the Aus
trian government is encouraging the
movement in a genuine endeavor to
promote peace, the fact that the CEN
sorship has permitted reports to be
telegraphed from Vienna with unwont-
ed freedom suggests to other COM
mentators that there may be de-
liberate purpose behind the license
allowed in Vienna.
The Daily Mail, for instance, sug-
Rests that it may be a case of sham
ming death to impress the labor parties
of the entente countries with the idea
that Austria is ready to accept boi-
shevik peace.
Civilians and Soldiers Clash.
Reports from Switzerland mention
the arrest of peace demonstrators AZ
some places In Austria Clashes be-
tween hungry civilians and soldiers
are reported, while in some instances
It is said the soldiers refused to mrs
on the demonstrators uhan ordered =
do SO. At Bratz. where the tropnie
Is acute, the soldiers abandoned tneif
loaded machine gums to the rfoterA
German newspaper reports thar Dr.
Won Seydler. the Austrian premier nSs
resigned and that DR.. Wekerle. the
Hungarian premier, has determined 70
retire next month. are not supported oy
any official announcements.
Ministry Reported Out.
AMSTERDAM. January 22.-The
Austrian ministry has resigned. accord
a
liner Morgen Post yesterday Count
Won Toggenburg, minister OF the IN
terror, has been charged with the~task
of forming a new cabinet
(The brief Vienna dispatch does not
make it absolutely clear which of the
ministries has resigned. the Imperial
ministry of which Count Czernin is tho
head, holding the portfolio of minister
of foreign affairs, or the minor ~ oody.
But the fact that Count Won Toggen.
burg, who held the post of minister OF
the interior in the Won Seydler. cabinet.
has been asked to organize new min
istry, would indicate that 1t Is the lat
ter Recent dispatches from Vienna
reported a crisis in the Austrian cab
met. DR.. Won Seydler being opposed not
only by the CZechs and the South Slavs.
but also by the socialists, while the
German deputies also were hostile ow.
ing to Won Seydler's weak attitude.)
Emperor Desires Peace.
VIENNA, Sunday, January 20. via
to London. January "a
"It is his majesty's wish to end the
war at the soonest moment possible by
an honorable peace. In pursuance or
this desire and on the principles it re-
peatedly has announced. the govern
ment Of the dual monarchy has done
everything in its power. and will con-
tinue to do everything possible. to
bring about most speedily general
peace. If for the present. however.
only a separate peace with Russia IS
the responsibility rests
solely with the entente powers. which
have rejected repeatedly our peace Of
fers."
These striking statements were made
today by DIR. Won Seydler. the Austrian
prime minister, in the course of a
speech at an important conference be-
tween the government and labor lead
ers in the minister's room In parlia-
ment house. Those present included
Count Won Toggenburg, minister of the
Interior; Lieut.. Gen. Czapp. minister of
defense, and labor representatives Ad-
Ter, Seitz and others.
Disavows Aims of Conquest.
After announcing that the present
serious time demanded harmony in la
discussion of all problems. the premier
made his announcement on peace. AZ
terward he proceeded to disavow any
aim at conquest and declared that the
he belief that international agreement
-egarding disarmament and arbitra-
ion courts could form a suitable basis >
'or a general peace
The premier insisted that as far as
Austria was concerend the negotiations
With Russia should not be shipwrecked
IN projects of territorial acquisition.
rhe government, he added. regarded
'Olanu as. All lHOcpcHuSTl Sldtc, Will
relations with the mon
lrchy. although. of course" he con-
inued. 1--WE shall preserve the consti-
utional influence Of the legislative
,odies Of both states Of the monarchy
n this settlement"
.It is, therefore. far from our inten-
ion to dictate to Poland regarding her
with u.s." said the premier.
Attitude as to Poland.
DR.. Won seydler reiterated that 1t was
he governments agreement that Poland
hould settle her own state system by a
opular vote. preferably by constituent
ssembly elected on a broad basis and the
oyernment's readiness to arrange effec-
We guarantees for complete freedom in
uch voting. unprejudiced by the occupy
.srhe government" Won Seydler, proceed
~. .f,ad, Of course. to refuse the Russian
demand for the evacuation
the occupied region. This refusal was
on to restrict the Polish peoples right
4 self-determination. but exclusively be-
ause of the continuance of the war on