Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1918-10-25
AUSTRIA GETS
COLD COMFORT
"PeopIe Must Rule" Is Kernel Of
Answer Made to Country'S
Peace Note.
FREEDOM BEFORE ALL THINGS
Austro- Hungarian Government Must
satisfy National Aspirations of Its
Own People Before Peace
Conditions May BE
Considered.


Washing en, Oct. President VII
son has rejected the Austrian offer to
conclude an armistice and negotiate
peace. He declared that mere auton-
omy for Austrian aationallties was
not sufficient, but that they must have
liberty
The text of the note handed to the
Swedish minister follows:
"Sir--I have the honor to acknowi-
edge the receipt of your note OF tho
seventh instant In which you transmit
communication of the Imperial and
royal government of Austria Hungary
to the president. / am instructed by
the president to request you TO be good
enough through your government to
convey to the imperial and royal gov
ernment the following reply:
THE president deems II his duty to
say TO the Austro-Hungarian govern
inent that he cannot entertain the pres
ent suggestions of that government be-
cause of certain events of utmost Inn
portanee which, occurring since the de-
livery of his address of the eighth Of
January last. have necessarily altered
the attitude and responsibility of the
government Of the United States.
Among the fourteen terms OF peace
which the president formulated at that
time occurred the foliowing
TX. The peoples Of Austria-Hun-
gary whose place among the nations
we wish to see safeguarded and as
sured, should be accorded the freest
opportunity OF autonomous develop
ment.
"Since that sentence was written
and uttered 20 the congress of the
United States the government OF the
United States has recognized that a
state of beligerency exists between
the Czecho-Slovaks and the German
and Austro-tIungarian empires and
that the Czecho- -SlOvak national conn
ell is de facto belligerent govern
ment clothed with proper authority to
direct the military and political af-
fairs of the CzechO-Slovaks. IL has
also recognized I'm the fullest manner
the justice of the nationallstic aspira-
tions of the Jugo-Slavs for freedom.
"The president is, therefore, no long
or at liberty to accept the mere 'auton-
omy' of these peoples as a basis OF
peace, bur is obliged TO Insist that
they, aud not he, shaIl be the Judges
of what action on rne part Of the Aus
tro-IIungarlan government will salts
fy their aspirations and their concep-
tion of their rights and destiny as
members of the family of nations.
Accept, sir, the renewed assurances
of my highest consideration.
ROBERT LANSING"
In announcing his reply, Secretary
Lansing also made public the official
text of the Austro-Hungarlan note 1t
follows:
Legation of Sweden. Washington.
y. e.. Oct Z, 1918 (Translation)-
Excellency: BY order Of my govern
ment have the honor confidentlally to
transmit herewith 10 you the following
communication Of the imperial and
royal government of Austria-H Hungary
TO the president Of the United States
Of America:
"'rhe Austro-H Hungarian monarchy.
which has waged war always and sole
Iy ms defensive war, and repeatedly
given documentary evidence of its
readiness to stop the shedding OF blood
and to arrive at just ana honorable
peace. hereby addresses itself to his
lordshp, the president of the United
States of America. and offers to con-
clpde with him and his allies an armis-
tice on every front on land AZ sea, and
in the air and 20 enter Immediately
upon negotiations for peace for
which the fourteen points 10 the mes
sage of President Wilson TO congress
of January 8, 1913, and the four
points contained in President Wilson's
address of February l., 1918, should
serve as foundation In which the
declared by President Will
son in his address of September %.
1918, will also be taken into account
BE pleased 10 accept, etc.
Nv. A. +. EKEYGREN.
'His excellency, Mr. Robert Lans>
ing, secretary of state of the United
States, Washington"