Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-10-22
The Reply to Austria.

In reason and justice the President could not
have done otherwise than reject Emperor Charles
eIevenrh-hour and rather dubious promise of
Austro-Hungarian federation" as basis for peace
with the Dual Monarchy.
In his address of January the eighth last which
laid down the broad principles for righteous set
Element of the wars issues the President declared:
THE peoples of Austria-Hungary, whose place
among the nations wish to See safeguarded and
assured should be accorded the freest opportunity
of autonomous development" Weeks and months
went by without sign that the Vienna Government,
which really is but a shadow of the Government at
Berlin, disposed to carry out in good faith any
principle of autonomy for the oppressed millions
under Hapsburg rule.
Meanwhile those peoples-the Czecho-SIovaks,
the Jugo-Savs and others akin to them-waXed
more and more insistent upon freedom, more and
determined stand out for their nationalistc
rights and aspirations Finally the Czecho-SlOvaks,
of whom there many thousands now in Russia
and in Allied ranks, fighting to overflow German
mtarism, declared their complete independence of
the Austro-iungarian Government and their SOW
ereignty as a nation. Furthermore-and this is the
pivot of the Presidents reply-the United States,
together with the Allies, recognized
that a state of belligerency ex-
lists between the Czecho-Slovaks and the Ger
man and Austro-Hungarian Empires and that
the Czecho-Slovak National Council is a de
facto belligerent Government clothed with
proper authority to direct the military and
political affairs of the Czecho-Slovaks. 1t has
also recognized in the fullest manner the JUS
tice of the nationalistic aspirations of the Jugo
SlOvaks for freedom"
Now more than eight months after the Presi-
dents address to which the Austrian Government
referred in it's 1recent note, and after the United
States had formally and fully recognized the
Czecho-SlOvak National Council a de facto
belligerent Government, Emperor Charles issues
manifesto announcing his intention to form Aus
trian confederation within which local autonomy,
or selfgovernment, shall be granted to the Czecho
T,,oo- and nafiC
aties. And on the strength Cor the weakness, it
were better to say of this belated intention"
his ministers ask for an armistice and a settle
ment
The Presidents reply is, we say, the only one
consistent with and justice. Inasmuch as
our Government has fully recognized Czecho-Slovak
independence and Jugo-Slavic rights he is mo
longer at liberty to accept the autonomy of
these peoples basis for peace, but is obliged to
insist that they not he, shall be the judges OF what
action the part of the AustrO-Hungarian Gov
eminent will satisfy their aspirations and their
conceptions of their rights and destiny members
Of the family of nations" The Austrian proposal of
corrro1niee was made. no doubt at the instance of
Germany and represented another move by tho Pots
dam iutrguers shift the wars issues from battle
i'm which their power is being forever destroyed to
conference debate in which they hope to save the
elements Of Prussianism for future plots and ad-
ventures.
lection of great nOn-TeutOn and non-lIag yar
ma jority TO German and Magyar despotism. has no
excuse for being. Heretofore it has served merely
to preserve the Hapsburg dynasty. Hereafter it
would serve merely TO sustain and promote the
sinister schemes of HohenZOllern Germany, for the
Austria Hungary of today, the world well knows
is but a German province and German tool
For the sake of that permanent peace which the
Allies wish to win and that reign of world justice
which they wish to establish, there should be
formed in place of the Prussanized and altogether
indefensible Dual Monarchy groups Of free nations
which, together with restored Poland. will lihCr-
ate long oppressed peoples and safeguard the future
concord of Europe and the world
Everybody wants to know what has become OF
the kaiser. He would doubtless like to know him
self.