The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-10-08
ALWAYS AGREED WITH PRESIDENT
 SAY AUSTR|ANS
Step by Teutonic Allies Not Decision Taken Suddenly Under Stress of Mili- tary Circumstances,
 Say Papers

Amsterdam, October I-An -eluclualioh of the peace offer of the central powers is published by the Vienna newspapers. The article, which is explained as ema- hating from ''wen informed circles reads as follows:
 Tt is first to be emphasized that thls step by Austria Hungary. Turkey and Germany is not to be regarded as a de- cision taken suddenly under stress of military events. It constitutes rather Ill the history of our peace policy the last link in the chain of a logical and con tinual evolution, regard being paid al the same time to the latest internal po- litical developments in Germany. AS N known, the point of departure oi our peace policy was Baron Burians note ol December, 1916 The step then taken was of a very vague character. The condi- tions were not described but only indi- cated in broad lines.
 "In the course of the development the conditions have become crystallized. Dur ing February, March and April eN- pressions regarding general and Just peace without annexations or compeh- sations came into currency.
 .Subsequently the idea of establishing an international court of arbitration and a reduction of armament was discussed and. further, the principle of freedom of the seas was proclaimed and, finally. the principle was set forth that econoh- ical wars and economic oppression atter the war may be prevented. Out of these guiding principles arose the present peace programme.
 ALL POINTS ACCEPTED
 "Au these points, it will be recalled. were accepted by Count Czernin (former Austrian foreign minister), in speeches and interviews as suitable basis fof peace negotiations and finally received the approval of the German Reichstag, so that uniformity in the conception ot the allies (Teutonic) thereby found ex- pression.
 '.Then followed the peace note of Pope Benedict. whose proposals and funda- mental ideas were accepted by us as forming an acceptable basis. Only Pres ident Wilson, in his note Of January s. 191S in his IA points made proposais and proclaimed principles which sup- stantially accorded with the programme of the central powers
 Count CZernln ana COulit fOii iA~i linz described President Wilson's pro ,,osal anart from a reserve regarding certain points, as a suitable basis Tor peace. The Austro-Hungarian deiega- lions and the German Reichstag nave described their attitude toward these -roposals in a similar manner IL shouiu he noted also that 1t was always Fres- ident Wilson who occupied hlmseH "i.n Q concrete peace programme, While the
 fo intentions con- m1est. Then came Baron Burians last ,,ronosaI for a preliminary discussion py the belligerent powers.
 .9rbe proposal was rejected by Presi- dent Wilson, not, however, with the Tn tention of cutting off peace discussions because in his speech of Septemoer ~ he again reverted to it and in an opJee- .i,,a manner set forth the necessity of Q inst peace-a peace that would not pc one-sided, but just to both sides' anu tbus fulfill the principle of high justice to all.
 SOLVES QUESTIONS
 "At this moment of the proclamation of this principle of equal justice for all parties it became clear that 1t was pos sible in this manner to come near td attaining peace, because the principle or the elimination of the one-sided pref erence provides for the solution of a group of diffcuit questions
 "In the consideration of the further circumstance that, owing to the internal political change in Germany, certain diff faculties were cleared out of the way, It became clear that uniform decision ol the central powers regarding peace couio be effected. On this day of the new German governments entering office we are in a position to undertake ster which reaches as far back as the begin ming of 1917.
 ssThis step was not born Of the events of the moment, but continually had won its way through in the course of a nat ural development.
 Tn the circumstances we expect our step will lead to rapproachement and dis cussion At the same time in express ing this hope we do not know how the entente and President Wilson will View this step. It is, however, politically justified on the ground alone that Pres-
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