Evening star., 1918-02-28
CzERN|N ASKS FOR
CONFIDENCE VOTE
Is Significant Portion of His
Address in Reply to 14 U. S.
Peace Principles:
TRANSLATION Is RECEIVED

A highly significant portion of the ad-
dress of Count Czernin. in reply to Presi-
dent Wilson's statement of fourteen basic
principles of peace discussion, was con-
tanned in complete transcript of the
Czernin speech printed in the Abendblatt,
the evening edition of the New York
Staats zeitung. It was discovered by the
translation section of the committee on
public information.
So far as the committee is aware this
portion appeared in no English language
publications in this country. 1t has been
forwarded to President Wilson.
The paragraph in question states:
THE minister finally asked. for a vote
of confidence and said:
Nothing keeps me in this position
except the feeling that it is my duty
to remain as long as 1 have the conf
dence of the emperor and of the ma
jority of the delegates. A decent SOL
dier does not desert his post. No for
elgn minister can carry on negotiations
of such far-reaching Importance if he
does not know. if the whole world does
not know, that he is supported by the
confidence of the majority of the con-
stitutional corporations. Either you
must have confidence in my ability to
carry on the negotiations for peace, and
dismiss me. There is no other choice"
Paragraph Is Significant.
This paragraph is-considered signif-
cant for several reasons, and especially
ceived here of an impending breach be-
tween Austria and Germany because
of the formers diSa approval of the course
Germany has taken toward Russia.
1t was pointed out today that this
statement on the part of the Austrian
foreign minister indicates that Austria.
unlike Germany, still has a constitu-
tional government. 1t also contains
admission of the Austrian cabinets
recognition of its responsibility not
only to the emperor. but to the depu-
ties who represent the Austrian people
There has been no indication. it was
stated at the committee, that a vote of
confidence was taken. But in the alb
sence of such information, it was point
ed out. and the fact that Czernin still
was taken or the opposition to his
views was not strong enough to force a.
vote.
The extract was taken from the
dent Wilson referred to in his address
to Congress on February IL. as uttered
in a, very friendly tone" In his ad-
dress President Wilson pointed to the
iHcI6cHCc DclWccH tHS tone ana mat
ter of Count Czernin's address and that
of Count Won Hertling, made on the
same day. and referred to the Won
Hertling address as very vague and
very confusing"
Printed in Dispatches
The major portion of the Czernin
speech was printed in press dispatches
in this country on January 25. the day
following it's delivery. But the full
text. as contained in the New York
was printed February %.
indicating that it may have been re-
ceived by mail.
One feature of the paragraph quoted,
it was pointed out today, was the evil
denee it gives of the success of Presi-
dent Wilson's diplomacy which has
sought to draw a distinct line of cleav-
age between the position of Austria
and that OF Germany, and to make the
most of the disaffection in Austria over
the accumulating evidence of Ger
maRy's desire to employ Austria as a
tool for the Prusslan. project of con-
quest.
In this same address Count Czernin
s reported to have said: II demand of
Russia not meter of territory, not a
.entime of indemnity" and said that
he settlement of the Polish question
must not delay peace by one day.
Later the Austrian premier declared
most emphatically to the Austrian dep
titles that Hungary will par
icipate in no way in the military
lction, which is now being carried on |
W Germany against Russia" according
O official dispatches received here yes
erday from France.