New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-04-06
Clemenceau Found Nego-
tiations Under Way When
He Took Office
Cites Letter Showing
Vienna Was Solicitor
Czernin, He Says, Twisted
Facts, Which Is
Lying"

PARIS, April Sin an official state
ment issued by the government to-day
Premier Clemenceau's denial of the
truth of the assertion of Foreign Min
ister Czernin that a conversation con-
cernlng peace had been held between
Austria and France was given confir-
nation. The note follows:
Premier Clemenceau, upon assum-
ing the duties of President of the
| Council, found that conversations had
been entered into in Switzerland, upon
Austria's initiative, between the Count
Revcrtata, personal friend of En-
peror Charles, and Commandant Ar
mand Of the Second Bureau, French
General Staff, designated for that pur-
pose by the French Minister at the
time.
M. ClemeEceau did not wish to as
sumo the responsibility of interrupt
ing conferences which had yielded
TO results, but which might furnish
useful sources of information. Com
mandant Armand thus was allowed to
continue his journey IN Switzerland,
upon the request Of Count Revertata.
Instructions were given M. Armand in
the presence of his chief by NJ. Gle
menceau as follows: Listen and say
nothing
Austria Was Solicitor
Count Revertata, becoming con-
vinced that his attempt to bring about
German peace was doomed to failure
in order to fully characterize his mis-
sion, gave Commandant Armand let
ter written in his own hand dated Feb
ruary 25, 1918, the first sentence of
which reads:
"'During the month of August, 1917,
with q view to obtaining from the
French government proposition to
Austria which might lead to future
peace and be of such a nature as to
be susceptible Of being indorsed by
Austria and presented to the German
government, conferences have been en-
tered upon.
Count Revertata. being himself the
solicitor, acknowledges in the follow
ing terms THAT the purpose was to
obtain from the French government
propositions of peace, under cover of
Austria, for transmission to Berlin
Czernin Told Untruth
"Such is the fact established by an
authenticated document which Count
Czernin has dared to refer to in the
following terms: 'Clemenceau. shortly
before the beginning of the offensive
on the Western front, had me asked
whether | was ready to enter upon ne
gotiations and upon what basis In
speaking thus not only he did not
tell truth, but told the opposite Of
truth, which in France is termed
lying
at is but natural that Premier Gle
menceau should be unable to restrain
his Indignation when Count Czernin.
justly anxious as to the final conse.
quenccs of the Western offensive, re-
versed the rules w1;a such audacity,
representing the French government as
when, with our Allies. we were pre-
pairing for the inliction of supreme
defeat upon the Central Empire.
at would be too easy to recall to
what extent Austria has importuned
Rome, Washington and London with So
licitations for an allegcd separate
peace which had no other aim than to
slip upon us the yoke which she pro-
! fesses to find to her taste. Who does
not know the story of recent meeting
| (in Switzerland, of course) of former
! Austrian Ambassador and figure high
in the councils of the Entente Allies :?
The conferences lasted only q few min
utes. Here, again, it was not our ally
who sought the interview. 1t was the
Austrian government. Does not Count
| Czernin remember another attempt of
the same sort made in Paris and Lon
don only two months before that of
Count Revertata by person of much
higher rank? There, again, as in the
present case, inauthentic, but much
more significant, proof exists"