New-York tribune., 1918-02-16
Austrian Plebiscite
Would Force Peace,
Says Vienna Paper
Gap Between Alliance Con-
stantly Widening, Teuton
Press Declares
The New York Tribune

"o'ph 1'TCSS bureau
The gap between Austria and Cor
many on the peace question seems to
be widening constantly. There is an
parently little doubt that Austria sim
cercly wants peace. In fact sho 10
almost at the point where her needs
and the discomfort of the population
make peace imperative. Germany. IN
the other hand, is still under control
OF the milltaristic party, who demand
victorious peace. But they are re-
celVihg constant warnings through the
press OF both Germany and Austria of
the danger of the policy thew are mr.
suing. The "Frankfurter Zeitung" re-
Gently said:
~ IS becoming ever more clear that
Wl'h the agreement Of the voy,
erhment, the people Of Austria. includ-
ing 'ne German population, are not in
riihed q 10 carry on the war until the
Entente is also ready to conclude a
peace based on understanding, and that.
tneY regard the deliverancc of all ma
uons from their imperialists as enc
OF their war aims. This development
turns more and more from exclusive
natlonallsm to democratic internation-
alism.
This must not be lost sight Of or
Germany will run risk Of becominf, no 6,
isolated. for a peace dictated at the
point OF the sword would mean the per
petuatlon of mlitarism. Nothing has
had such prejudcial effect on the re-
laClons between Germany and Austria
as the action and demeanor of the Ger
man Fathcrland party"
10 this the "Neue Freic Presse." of
Vienna, added: "Thc whole Austrian
population wishes for peace and for
peace without annexation and without
war lndemnities. A plebscite on the
question of peace would prove in fig
ures the unanlmlty of all classes Of
the population. The workman is suf-
ierlng, the middle class is disappear
ing IN poverty. the whole population
is borne down with grief and trouble.
a spirit of melancholy hangs over the
whole empire and the ycarning for
peace Is in every heart"
"Norwarts," of Berlin. in a warnino
to the government, says:
"Ihe feeling of Austria, including
German Austria, is turning against
both the open and secret annexationist
factors IN Germany's policy. 1t is be-
llevcd that CZcrnin has indicated that
Austra-Hungary IS withdrawing from
the so-callcd Austrian solution Of the
Polish question. If, therefore, Austria
Hungary, for the sake of peace, practi-
cally rcnounccs all idea Of an extern
sion of power, she will not be in favor
OF peace negotiations being disturbed
by any such ideas from another side. +"
DR.. Lcderer. the Vienna correspond
cnt of the "Bcrlincr Tageblatt," SAID
IN dispatch on t}S strike that cook
place IN Austria at the end of January:
"The people of Austria, including the
German workers in the country and the
broadest masses of the middle parties.
decline to fight further for aims which
go beyond the limits of clearly de-
fined peace without annexatons ard
indemnitics.
DR.. Lcdercr shows how it will be
difficult for the government to provide
the people with greater supplies of
food, for the sources which can be
tapped between now and the beginning
of the next harvest year'-still eight
months distant-"arc exceedingly lin
tied. The government cannot f1ll the
stomachs of the workers, because it
does not possess the necessary sup
plies. Had the workers limited them
selves TO a cry for bread the govern
ment would have been powerless."
The message concludes:
"One will do well in Berlin to fol-
low the movement with great attention.
Though the strike may end, an cxtraor-
dnarly delicate situation will remain.
A people will hold out as long as necas-
sary for defence. but won't hold out
for the achievement of annexatioMist
aims, no matter how disguised If the
German army commands and German
policy does not wish to experience sur
prlses, then they must not set in the
ncarmost place those views to which
the strike has given expres sionn