New Britain herald., 1918-09-16
AUSTRIA'S NOTE ID
 ALL BELLIGERENTS
Text Of Communication Addressed
 to Warning Countries by Vienna

Amsterdam, Sept. IS, (by Associ- lated Press. )-The official communica- tion of the Austro- Hungarian Govern ment and the text of it's note to belli- gerent and neutral powers, suggesting a meeting for preliminary and non- binding discussion of war aims, with a view to the possible calling of a peace conference, are as follows:
 The communication:
 An objective and conscientious ex- animation of the situation of all the belligerent States no longer leaves doubt that all peoples, on whatever side they may be fighting, long for a speedy end to the bloody struggle. Despite this natural and comprehen- sible desire for peace, it has not been possible to create those preliminary conditions calculated to bring the peace efforts nearer to realization and bridge the gap which at present still separates the belligerents from one another.
 "A more effective means must there fore be considered whereby the re- sponsible factors of all the countries can be offered an opportunity to in vestigate the present possibilities of an understanding.
 ' "The first step which Austro- Hungary, in accord with her allies undertook on Dec. 22, 1918, for the bringing about of peace did not lead to the end hoped for.
 "The grounds for this lay assuredly In the situation at that time. In order to maintain in their peoples the war spirit, which was steadily declining, the allied Governments had by the most severe means suppressed even any discussion of the peace idea. And SO it came about that the ground for a. peace understanding was>not pro- perly prepared. The neutral transit ton from the widest war agitation to a condition of conciliation was lacking.
 Tt would, however, be wrong to believe that the peace step we then .. took was entirely without result. It's fruits consist of something which is not to be overlook ed-that the peace question has not since vanished from the order of the day. The discussions which have been carried on before the tribunal of public opinion have disclosed proof of the not slight diff terences which today still separate the warning powers in their concept / tion of peace conditions.
 NGNGTIn6lGSS dI1 atmosphere IldS been created which no longer excludes the discussion of the peace problem.
 Without optimism, it at least as- suredly may be deduced from the ut terances of responsible statesmen that khe desire to reach an understanding and not to decide the war exclusively :. by force of arms is also gradually be- ginning to penetrate into allies States, save for some exceptions in the case of blinded war agitators. which are certainly not to be estimated lightly.
 'I'he Austro- Hungarian Govern ment is aware that after the deep reaching conVulsiOnS which have been caused in the life of the peoples by the devastating effects of the world war it will not be possible to rees- tablish order in the tottering world at a single stroke. The path that leads to the restoration Of peaceful reIa- tions between the peoples is cut by hatred and embitterm It is toil- some and wearisome, yet it is our duty to tread this path--the path ot negotiation--and if there arc still