New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-04-04
Teutonic Demands Will Be
Forced on Battlefield,
Says Czernin
Pacihsts Denounced
For Prolonging War
Entente Dropped Parleys,
Hoping for Internal Trou-
BILE, He Declares

Czernin, Hungarian Foreign
Minister, told the Vienna Municipal
Council which came to him on Tues
day to complain of the almost un-
bearable internal conditions that the
dual monarchy recently had been al
most on the point of beginning gen
eral peace negotiations, but the
Entente nations suddenly had re-
fused to continue. Therefore. he
declared, the war must be fought to
conclusion on the battlefield in the
West as it had been in the East.
Il do not intend to go begging for
peace or to obtain it by entreatics
and lamentations, but to enforce it
by our moral right and physical
strength" said Count Czernin. "~Any
ether tactics | consider will contrib
ute to the prolongation of the wal.
No German Conquests
Count Czernin bitterly condemned
the Russian Bolsheviki and defended
the treatment Of Russia and Ru-
mania by the Central Powers. He
denied that Germany was anneXa
ZIONIST. He said it was distortion
of fact to say Germany had make
conpuests in the East. Lenine's an
archy, he said. had forced Russia
into Germany's arms.
Count Czernin said Premier Glenn
onccau had inquired of Austria on
what terms she would conclude
peace.
Austria answered that Frances de-
mand for Alsace Lorraine was the only
obstacle to peace on the part of France,
he continued, whereupon Clemcnceau
declared negotiations could not be con-
Quoted on that basis.
"Rccently we were almost on the
point Of entering into negotiations
with the Western powers" Count Ger
min said, "whcn the wind suddenly
vccrcd around, and, as we know with
certainty, the Entente decided 1t had
better wait, as parliamentary and po-
litcal events in our country JustlRed
the hope that the monarchy would soon
be defenceless."
The Foreign Minister announced the
terms of peace with Rumania, which
include the cession of several frontier
districts, a lease Of three islands and
commercial favors. The ccsslons OF
territory were not annexations, but
H., {,n,. 10 fon
Austria-Hungary from surprise attack,
he said. He declared, however, that he
considered international agreements to
rrcvont war even safer guarantees, and
added:
"I. thus far, except in the case Of
President Wilson. have been unable to
discover amongst any of our enemies
serious inclination TO accept this idea"
He made strong plea for dlsarma-
ment by international agreement inc
delegation to whom he spoke waited on
him in connection with what the burgo
master termed "thc aggravated distress
of the population" which is closely
connected with the general political
situation.
Analyses Wilson Statement
Count Czcrnin's speech follows
"With the conclusion of peace with
Eumania the war III the faSC cnueu:
Before. however. turning to Individual
peacc treaties and discussing them in
detail. would like to revert TO the
declaration of the President of the Unit
cd States, in which he replied to the
spccch delivered by me on January "a.
"ln many parts Of the world Presl-
dent Wilson'S speech was interpreted
as an attempt to drive wedge between
Vienna and Berlin. | do not believe
that. because | have too high an opln-
ION of the President of the United
States and his outlook as a statesman
to believe him capable of such way of
thinking. President Wilson is no more
able to ascribc dishonorable action TO
us than We to him.
"Prcsidcnt Wilson does not desire to
scparatc Vienna from Berlin, and he
knows, too, that that would be impos-
siblc. Perhaps President Wilson says
to himself however, that Vienna is
more favorable soil for sowing the seed
for a general peace. Perhaps he says
to himself that the Austro-H Hungarian
monarchy has the good fortune to pos
scss a ruler who sincerely and hon
cstly desires a general peace. but who
will never commit n breach of faith or
conclude dishonorablc peace. and that
behind the Emperor-Kng there arc
5000, 900 people.
"Prcsident Wilson says also, perhaps,
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