Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-01-26
Public Should Remain Calm

former secret system. that might have
created Il false IMPRESSION"
Public Should Remain Calm
count Czernin emphasized the fact
mat to counterbalance this publicity il
was necessary for the public. as well
as its leaders, to remain calm The bu.-
mess would be conducted to the en-,
with coolneSS, he declared. and wn,,I,i
achieve good results if the PEOPLES or
the Dual Monarchy supported their re-.
sponslhle delegates at the conferences
Count CZernin went on to declare that
the basis Of the negotiations between
Austro- hungary and what he alluded
10 as the various recently created
RUSSIAN states was peace without an
neXations or indemnities.
i shall not abandon this prosra m I"
he announced, and those who thought
| should allow myself to be led away
from the path which determined unon
are bad psychologists. | have never
left public opinion in the least doubt
as TO the path which | am following
ana nave never allowed myself to be
diverted an inch from this path. either
TO the right or to the left While the
Pan Germans and all those in the mon
archy who take them as their model
have honored me with their undoubt
cd support. ! am considered bv those
who wish Leace at any price as being
IT. favor of war But neither the one
slde or the other has ever worried
me. Their insults are, on the contrary.
MY only distractions in these serious
times
1 declare once again that | demand
not square metre or kreutzer from
Russia. and that if Russia, as seems
to be the case, adopts the same point
OF view. peace ought to result.
Those who wish peace at any price
might be able to cast doubts upon my
loyalty II did not tell them to their
face with the same categoric frank
ness that | shall never agree to CON
clude peace exceeding the limits
with have just indicated. If our Rus
sian interrogators asked US to code
territories and pay indemnities
shouio continue the war, despite the
uesire for peace which I share as much
as you or l should resign if were
unable to make my opinion prevail"
Objects to Internal Interference
Count Czernm declared that he mrs.
politely. but categorically. refuse at-
vice as to the manner in which Aus
tria and Hungary should manage their
internal administration and he assert
ed that there was not more dem
ocratic parliament i'll the world than
the Austrian parliament. which. i'm
agreement with the other authorized
constitutional organizations alone has
the right to decide the internal Affairs
of Austria
Referring t. President Wilson's pea &c
program, Count Czernin said he had
no objection 10 the suppression of sec
ret diplomacy although he doubted
whether that method was in every case
the most practical or rapid way to ar
rive ut results. The public discusslcn
of diplomatic treaties might. for ex-
ample in the case of economic agree
ments. make impossible the conclusion
OF such agreements. which are nothing
but commercial transactions and might
| increase friction between two states.
1T is the same in the case Of polIt
zeal agreements" the foreign minister
continued: IF by the suppression OF
secret diplomacy is meant that there
should no longer be any secret treat
les l have no objection to make to the
realization of this idea, although I do
not know how one can execute and con
troll this realization. But. those are
supplementary details which could be
| discussed
For Freedom Of Seas
Count Czernin said as to the secont;
J point in President Wilson's peace aims.
free dom Of the seas, that the President
had responded to the views OF all and
| that he (Czernin) absolutely and ell
tirely supported this paragraph.
Regarding paragraph three in Pres.
! ident Wilson's proposals-the removal
! Of economic barriers and the establish