Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1918-04-04
AUSTRIA WILL NOT
BEG FOR PEACE
So Count Czernin Says In Declar.
ing Dual Monarchy's Loyalty
10 Germany
HIGH OPINION OF WILSON
Mentions IrQuiry from Clemeneenu-
Told Latter Alsace Lorraine wes only
Obstaclc to Peace With yrance

Amsterdam. April SCOUT Czern,n.
the Au5tro. Hungarian foreign minister,
addressing a delegation from tho Vienna
city council which waited on hin, Tues.
day In connection with what the butgo-
master termed 1.-The aggravated distress
OF the population" which is closely con-
Iiected with the general political situation,
said
with the conclusion of peace with
Rouman!c the war in the east ended.
Before, however, turning to Individual
peace treaties and discussing them in do
tail, would like to revert to the declarn-
ton Of the President of the United
States. in which he replied to the speech
delivered by me on January "a.
"In many parts of the world President
Wilson's speech was interpreted as an
attempt to drive a wedge between Vienna
and Berlin. I do not believe that, be-
cause l have too high an opinion of the
President of the United States and his
outlook as statesman to believe him
President Wilson is no more able to
ascribe dishonorable action to us than
we to him.
president Wilson does not desire to
separate Vienna from Berlin. and he
knows, too. that that would be impossible.
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- Hungarian monarchy has the
good fortune to possess a ruler who
sincerely and honestly desires a general
peace, but who will never commit a
breach of faith or conclude dishonorable
peace. and that behind the Emperor King
there are f1fty-five million people
president Wilson says also. perhaps, to
himself that this united mass represents
force which is not to be underestimated
and that this honest and strong desire
for peace which binds the monarchs, gov
ernments and peoples Of both states is
capable Of being the bearer of that great
idea in the service of which he has
placed himself
Il can only say that esteem 1t highly
that the German chancellor. in his excel
lent speech of February Is. took the words
out Of my mouth by declaring that the
four principles developed in President
Wilson's speech of February II formed
the basis upon WHICH q general, peace could
be discussed. / avn In entire agreement
with this.
THE four points laid down by the Presi-
dent are a suitable basis on which to be-
gin the discussion for general peace.
Whether. however. the President will sue
ceed In his endeavors to rally his allies on
this basis or not is question.
God Is my witness that We have tried
everything possible to avoid a fresh offen-
sve, but the entente would not have 1t
thus.
Some time before the western offensive
began, NJ. Clemenceau addressed to me an
inquiry whether and upon what basis
was prepared to negotiate. In an agree
ment with Berlin l Immediately replied
that l was prepared to negotiate and that
as far as France was concerned the only
obstacle I could see in the way Of peace
was the French desire for Alsace Lor.
raine.
"The reply from Paris was that it was
impossible to negotiate on this basis
Therefore, there was no choice left.
THE colossal struggle in the west has
already broken out. Austro- Hungarian
| and German troops are fighting shoulder
to shoulder, as they fought In Russia
| Serbia, Roumania and Italy. We are
| fighting together for the defense of Aus.
tria- Hungary and Germany. The aspira
tions Of France and Italy are Utopias
which will be terribly avenged.
Come what may we shall not sacrifice
! Germanys interests any more than sht
| will leave us in the lurch. We are moi
fighting for imperialism or annexationis
ends for ourselves or for Germany, but
VIC shall go forward together to the las
for our defense, for our existence as
state and for our future.
| "The nrs. breach In the win OF orl
encmies for war has been made h!
the peace negotiations with Russia
1 n Ap hn
idea. 1t Is evidence Of childish diet
tantism to overlook the innor connec
tion between the various conclusion
of peace. Tho constellation Of enemy
powers In the east resembled a ne
when one mesh wss severed the 9th
ers gave way.
! "Thc Ukrnintar peace led 10 peac'
with Russia, end Rouinania. becoming
peace. We had to begin will
Ukraine both on technical cad mater
ial grounds. The block ado had to b,
broken. and tho future will show tina
the conclusion of posce with Ukrain
was blow at the heart Of ou
enemies.
| "rhe peace concluded with Rou
mania. 1t is calculated. will be tn
| 'saiN'he PoshN VA 'iChuty
The slight frontier rectification
which we receive are not annexations
Wholly uninhabited regions, the.
serve solely for military protection
To those who insist that these recti
fications fall under the category o
annexations and accuse me Of incon
sistency. I reply that have publicl.
protested against holding out II
cense to our enemies which would as
sure them against the dangers o
further adventures.
From Russia did not demand n singh
metre, but Roumania neglected tho favor
able moment. The protection OF mer
camille shipping in the lower Danub
guarding the iron gate is guaranteed b,
the extension of the frontier to the height
Of Turnu-Severin, by leasing for thirt!
years a valuable wharf near this town
together with strip along the river banl
at an annual rental of a thousand lei
and finally by obtaining the leasing right
to the Islands OF Ostrovo. Maracorbu ant
Simearu. and the transfer of the frontie
several kilometres southwark In the re
gion OF the Petroseny coal mine. whicl
better safeguards our possessions In tn
Szurdok Pass coal basin
"Nagy-Szeben and Fogaras sill receive
q new security frontier OF an average
width Of from fifteen to eighteen kilome
tres at al passes Of Importance. a.. To-