The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-04-06

PARIS. April I'm an official state
msnt issued by the Government to-day
Premier Ciemenceau's denial OF the
truth of tho assertion Of Foreign Min
lister Czernin, that a conversation con-
cerning peace had been held between
Austria and France. was given confirma-
ton. The note follows:
Premier Clemenceau. upon assuming
the duties Of President Of the Council.
found that conversations had been
entei ed into III Switzerland upon Aus
tria's initiative between the Count Rever
tata, personal friend Of Emperor
Charles. and Commandaut Armand of
the Second Bureau. French General
stan. designated for that purpose by the
French Minister at the time.
M. C.encnceau did no' wish To as
sumo the responsibility Of !nterrupting
conferences which nad Welded no re-
suits. bu. which might furnish useful
sources OF information. Conmardant
Armand thus was allowed TO continue his
journey III Switzerland lyon the re-
quest Of Count Eevcrtata. lustructlous
were given NJ, Armand in the presence
o! his cilicf -, VI. Clemenceav as fol-
lows, l.! 7tcn and say nothing
Revertata Wrote Letter.
Count Revcrta;a becoming convinced
that his attempt TO bring about Ger
man paaca was doomed to failure. in
order to fully characterize his mission,
gave Commandant Armand q letter writ
ten in hiI own hand dated February So,
1918 the flrst sentence OF which reads:
During ne month of August, 1917.
with View 70 obtaining from the
French Gov. rnmcIit a proposition 70
teta lpI laoh n
peace and be of such a nature as 10 be
susceptible OF being endorsed by Austria
and presented 10 the Ge.man Govern
nent. conferences have been entered
upon
Count Revertata. being himself the
solicitor. acknowledges IN the following
terms: That the purpose was 20 obtain
from ihe French Government PROPOSE
tionSpo: peace, under cover O. Austria
for transmission tO Berlin
such Is the fact stablished by an
authenticated document which Count
Czernln has dared to refer 10 in the fol-
lowing terms: 'Clemsnceau, shortly be.
fore the beginning OF the offensive on the
western front. had me asked whether !
was ready TO enter upon negotiations
and upon wha. basis In speaking thus
not only he did not tell the truth. but
told the opposite OF truth, which ir
France Is termed lying
CIemenceau Indignant.
"lt Is but natural that Premier Glenn
enceau should he unable to restrain his
Indignation when Count C1ernin. justly
anxious as to the final consequences OF
the western offensive. reversed the rules
with such audac!ty, representing the
French Government as begging for
peace at the very moment when. with
our allies. wc were preparing for the
infiiction OF a supreme defeat upon the
Central Empires.
"It would be too easy TO recall Il
what extent Austria has importuned
Rome. Washington and London viii
solicitations for an alleged separate
peace. which had no other aim thar
to slip upon us the yoke which sh'
processes TO find tn her taste. Wh'
does not know the story OF reccn
meeting Gin Switzerland. Of course) %
n former Austrian Ambassador and :
figure high in the councils OF the Fin
tente Allies: The conference lasted
only few minutes, Here. again, i
was not our ally who sought the In
terview. II was the Austrian Gov
ernment. Does not Count Czerrii
remember another attempt OF the SAM
sort made in Paris and London onl,
two months before that Of Count Rev
ertata by a person OF much highe
rank? Thsre again, as In the presen
| case, inauthentic but much more sig
nif1cant proof exists"