The Washington herald., 1918-04-04
ReaI Meaning Md.

heal meaning Askeos
1t is always our duty to find out
what the expression Of a desire for
peace from our opponents really
means, but unless it means a COM
plete and convincing programme of
justice. upon which lasting peace
can really rest. it means nothing"
In the face of such policy Czernin's
statement that the thread of peace
spun between Washington and vi
enna IN January was severed by the
enemies of the Central Empires. is
declared to be absurd
The speech is believed to have rep
resented a desperate effort to satisfy
a new demand from the Austrian
people for a cessation of hOstiiities.
officials assert no other explanation
for discussing world issues before the
Vienna municipal council is plausible.
A. vast amount of information has
accumulated in Washington showing
The great dissatisfaction among the
Austro- Hungarian peoples with the
terms OF the peace which Russia was
forced to accept. Revolution which
threatened to develop from bread riots
throughout the dual empire. was only
prevented by exaggerated promises of
new food supplies from the Ukraine.
These promises have not been possible
II fulfilment.
The statement that Premier Clemen-
ceau, of France, addressed Count
Czernin with an inquiry whether
Austria was ready to negotiate, and
was told that the French desire for
Alsace-L,Orraine was the. only obstacle
to haN l..
by French diplomats here as a subter-
fuge to shift responsibility for the
Austrian's own shortcomings.
Requests Full Text.
The State Department had not re-
Ceiyed the full text of the CzernIn
statement at a late hour, but officials
said the excerpts which had become
available were highly interesting.
From the White House an order was
sent to the Committee on Public In
formation to produce the full speech
with as little delay as possible.
Count Czernin's failure to ex-
plain why he never answered the
statement by President Wilson de-
livered before Congress on Feb
ruary 8. is regarded at the White
House substantial evidence OF his
insincerity at this time.
In a statement Of policies some
time ago President Wilson emu
merated fourteen points as essential
TO peace. These were later modi-
Eed into four general principles the
acceptance of which the Chief Ex-
ecutive said could be regarded as a
basis for preliminary negotiations.
In many quarters the concessions
made 'in- the announced policy OF the
United States were so great as to
arouse real hope that Austria
could be induced to withdraw from
the alliance with Germany. Czernin
was expected to make a prompt re-
ply, but instead the news dispatches
told that he had been called to
Berlin. In the conferences which
followed with the German war lord>
the situation became entirely chang
ed again.
stems Peace Tide.
A few days later the collapse of
the BoIshevik government of Rus
enabled CBernin to stem for the
time being the tide for peace which
had set against the Austro- Hungar-
ian AhC hEAL hcdEu OI
the foreign minister he was pro-
posing the treaty with Rumania
which Is regarded at the State De-
partment as the most iniduitous
document developed by the war.
On account of the treatment ac-
corded Rumania. Czernin's assertion
that he still stands by the policy
of no annexations and free determi-
nation for all distinct nationaIities,
Is considered unworthy of atten-
ton,
overmaa Bill
The Senate continues to debate
the Overman bill. and the Senate
Military Affairs Committee delib-
Grated yesterday upon the wisdom
of reopening its investigation into
the conduct Of the war. The Over
man bill debate made little head
way. Senators in the heat of their
eloquence said "Oh. hell" and also
juoted Scripture texts, but a vote
on the measure seems far on.
The expression '-Oh, Hellr' was ut
tered twice. first by Senator opposed
to the bill. in an undertone clearly
heard throughout the chamber, and
then by Senator Overman, with tuH-
throated emphasis and the added IN
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