New Britain herald., 1918-04-12
EMPEROR sought
PEACE With FRANCE
Paris Proves Vienna Took Initia-
tive in Message to PoinCare

1--WE Id message 10 POlnCafe
Paris, April 12.-The following Off
cial note was issued last night:
"Once caught in the cogwheels Of
lying, there is no means Of stop
ping. Emperor Charles, under Ber
Inns eye, is taking on himself the
lying denials of Count Czernin, and
thus compels the French govern
ment to supply the proof. Herewith
is the text of an autograph letter
mmunicated on March 81, 1917, by
Prince Sixtus de Bourbon, the en-
peror Of Austria's brother-in-law, to
President Poincare, and communicate
ed Immediately, with the princes
consent, to the French PREMIER
My Dear Sixtus: The end of
the third year of this war, which has
brought SO much mourning and grief
into the world, approaches. All the
peoples of my empire are more close
ly united than ever in the comm on
determination to safeguard the in
tegrity of the monarchy at the cost
even of the heaviest sacrifices.
- Thanks to their union, with the
generous cooperation of all ma
tionalities, my empire and mon
archy have succeeded in resisting the
gravest assaults for nearly three
years. Nobody can question the
military advantages secured by my
troops, particularly in the Balkans.
France, on her side, has shown
force, resistance, and dashing cour-
age which are magnific cent. We all
unreservedly admire the admirable
bravery, which Is traditional to her
army, and the spirit Of sacrifice Of the
entire French people.
Therefore it is a special pleas
ure to me to note that, although fot
the moment adversaries, no real
divergence of views or aspirations
separates many of my empire from
France, and that I am justified in
hoping that my keen sympathy Tor
France, Joined to that which prevails
in the whole monarchy, will forever
avoid a return of the state of war,
for which no responsibility can tall
on me.
with this in mind, and to show
in a def1nite' manner the reality OF
these feelings, l beg you to convey
privately and unofficially to President
Poincare that I will support by every
means, and by exerting all my per-
sonal influence with my allies,
Frances just claims regarding AL
sace-Lorraine.
Belgium Should Be Re-established.
-" Belgium should be entirely re-
established in her sovereignty, retain
ing entirely her African possessions
without prejudice to the compensa-
tons she would receive for the losses
she has undergone.
% Serbia should be re-established
in her sovereignty and, as a pledge
of our goodwill, we are ready to
assure her equitable natural access
to the Adriatic and also wide eco
nomic concessions in Austria-Hun-
gary. On her side, we will demand,
as principal and essential conditions,
that Serbia cease in the future all
relation with, and suppresses every
association or group whose political
object aims at the disintegration of
the Monarchy, particularly the Ser
bian Political society, Narodnf
Ochrana; that Serbia Loyalty and by
every means in her power prevent
any kind of political agitation, either
in Serbia or beyond her frontiers IN
the foregoing direction, and give as
SuranCeS tnereOI unQeT the guarantee
of the Entente Powers.
The events in Russia compel me
to reserve my ideas with regard to
that country until a legal definite
government is established there.
Having thus laid my ideas clear
ly before you, / would ask you in
turn. after consulting with these two
powers, to lay before me the opinion
of France and England, with a view
thus to preparing the ground for an
understanding on the basis Of which
official preliminary negotiations could
be taken up and reach result salts
factory to all.
Hoping that thus we will soon be
able together to put a limit to the
sufferings of so many millions of men
and families now plunged in sadness
and anxiety, 7 beg to assure you of
nv Warmest and most brotherly af-
lection.
"'CHARLES.
The French note adds:
Count Czernin, having recognized
by his note of April the existence of
this negotiation due to the Initiative
of a parsonage of "a rank far above
his the Austrian government is now
summoned to give an explanation OF
the attempt avowed by him and OF
the details of the conversation of its
Delegates
Denied by Emperor Charles.
Vienna, via Amsterdam, April 12.-
Complete solidarity exists between
Austria and Germany and I'VE shall
iointlv pnforce an honorable peace"