The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-09-16
The Austrian Invitation.

The obvious viewpoint OF the cyni-
cal will be that Austria has been sent
to task at which Germany has
clumsily failed, the attitude OF the
outer world being less bitter toward
Austria than toward her evil COM
panion nation. On that side Of the
matter 1t may be added that. so far
as discussing 'baslc principles for
the conclusion of peace" Is concerned,
Austria had her answer from Presi-
dent WILSON last winter. In his ad-
dress to the Congress on January 8
the President laid down concrete
programme Of peace-"the only posi-
BILE programme. as we see it." Five
weeks later, in his address to the Con-
gress upon the German and Austrian
peace utterances, Mr.. WILSON set
forth, in less concrete but equally
comprehensive form, the principles
of peace. This latter address was
directed in reply to the comments
Of the Austrian, Count CzERyIN, on
the Presidents address Of January
3, and the President remarked that
Count CzERNIN finds in my state
ment a sufficiently encouraging ap-
proach to the views of his own Gov
erument to justify him in believing
that 1t furnishes a basis for a more
detailed discussion of purposes by
the two Governments"
Whatever good might have come
from the interchange last winter was
destroyed by the conduct Of Ger
many, where the Presidents utter
ances were received in n spirit en-
tirely different from that in which the
Austrian statesman took them.
Prussia again waved the sword and
prepared what was then believed to
he an assault by three million men
on the western front. That was a
proud Germany, with Russia already
Mt her feet and the myth Of German
invincibllity in the field still unex-
ploded. Her defiant attitude. her
plunge into the new drive Of March,
dispelled whatever atmosphere of
peace had been created by earlier dis
cussion, and on April 6 the President
announced the only possible American
policy: "Force to the utmost, force
without stint or limit"
It is q different Germany now, and
= humber. If possible, Austria. For
Germany to say at peace gather
ing, Look at the map" would only
be to invite an inspection Of her own
flight from France. 1t calls for no
stretch Of the Imagination to believe
that throughout Austria there must
be delight over the recent fate Of the
ally who has kept Austria in a war
that she hates. For Austria to beg
peace, and keep crying for 1t, is most
natural. It is natural for her to at
tempt to take up. this time with all
the enemies of the Central Powers
the questions she attempted to dis
cuss with the United States sever
months ago; for this time she might
find her own ally and worst enemy
Germany. dislnclined to thrust q
sabre in the way. 1t Is noteworthy
that the Austrian invitation calls par
ticular attention to President WILSON &
addresses of February II and July 4
adding that tie broad principles
therein formulated would be likely
to meet no objection from the Powers
of the Quadruple Alliance.
However Washington may view
the invitation, It is certain that thu
bid from Vienn" will bring no change
short of tive immlnence of rea
peace-in the American purpose t.
keep the war at Its present goot
speed. The Austrian trainers Of thu
invitation appear to have anticipated
any suspicion Of an attempt to cause
cessation Of hostilities, for tina
point Is touched upon In the note.