The Watertown news. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1917-1919, 1918-09-11
AUSTRIA URGES
PEACE PARLEY
Foreign Minister Burian Wants
Entente Allies to Ex-
change Views.
fight FOR IMAGINARY AIMS
Baron Says Adversaries of Central
Powers Need Only Provide
Opportunity to Open
Way.

Amsterdam, Sept. 11.-An exchange
OF views between the central powers
| and the entente was tentatively sug-
gested by Baron Burian, the Austro-
Hungarian foreign minister, in an I'D
dress to visiting German newspaper
men, according to Vienna dispatch.
Such discussion, said the foreign
minister, need not take the form Of
peace negotiations, but would have as
Its purpose the consideration Of all
things which are keeping the belnger-
ent powers apart.
Baron Burian advanced his sugges-
tion In declaring that the adversaries
OF the central powers need only pro-
vide the opportunity "in calm
change Of views-some sort of direct,
Informative discussion Is thinkable
which would be far from being peace
negOt1atiOns-of discussing and weigh
Ing everything which today separates
the belligerent parties, and no further
fighting will perhaps be needed to
bring them closer together"
Sees FoIIIes OF War.
AAAo QucolIOu dTlSeS, Sdlu CQ0 IOr.
e1gn minister. isn't 1t crime against
humanity even to think Of completely
putting down structure which has
become historical, and which Certain
~, here and there, needs Improvement,
but is only capable Of improvement In
order to found paradise in future on
It's ruins? The defect in this, how.
ever, is that in accordance with the de-
structive methods of our enemies it
can only be created with a much too
great sacrafce.
Count the past hecatombs of this
war. Think Of those to come and ask
whether striving to attain war aims at
such a price is tustifable-war aims
in which the principle Of justice is put
foremost without Investigating.
whether an understanding could not
be reached by a fair application of
that principle.
Fight for Imaginary Alma
1T is unthinkable that even the
most confident hopes of final victory
could permit the enemy in the long
run to avoid considering whether the
most terrific exertiohs and sacrifices
can longer be justified in order to car
ry through principles which are not
the enemys monopoly or to regulate
the affairs Of other peoples who can
manage them quite as we'll them
selves.
II believe that careful and sincere
investigation would bring many on the
other side to realize that they often
are fighting for imaginary things. 1t
may be an ungrateful task to want to
communicate with ones own percep-
tons Of things to the enemy.
THE enemy group can, If 1t wishes,
convince Itself that in all questions Of
humanity and Justice and Of future In
ternational relations that it will Ell.
counter on the part Of our group no
opposition and will be in line with our
existing progressive aspirations. But
at the same time 1t will meet our de-
termination to continue steadfastly to
stand up for our good right.
All Anxious for Peace.
"Our adversaries need only provide
an opportunity In calm exchange OF
views-some sort of direct informative
discussions Is thinkable which would
be far from being peace Negotiations
Of discussing and weighing everything
which today separates the belligerent
parties, and no further fighting will
perhaps be needed to bring them
closer together.
But would not delude you with
baseless prospects Of peace at a mo-
ment when the war fever still Is shak-
ing the world. must, however, talk
to you on peace because we all honest
" want 1t and because we are certain
there Is an evergrowing number Of
like-minded persons In all enemy coun-
tries
1--WE desire to contribute to the best
Of our ability to mutual understand
Ing and help to pave way for concil-
iation. But, SO long as necessary, we
shall hold out in loyal and resolute
@ry{nt Aofonco