Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1918-04-15
WILL KEEP OFFICE
TILL "A SUCCESSOR
IS APPOINTED
New Peace Possibilities do
not Alter Situation as far
as Germany is Concerned
LETTER TO .s1xTUs
CAUSES RESIGNATION
jtt%#,%4 '------------.--- ,t. f!5,
Failure to Explain Letter to
German Satisfaction Pre-
cipitates Crisis.

Amsterdam, April 15.-Count
Czernin, the Austro- Hungarian for
eign minister, according to dispatch
from Vienna, has resigned.
Emperor Charles accepted the
Czernin with the conduct Of foreign
affairs until his successor is appoint
ed. y .
An official statement received here
today from Vienna asserts that the
latest statements Of the French pre-
rnfer. NJ. Clemenceau, u,econcerning the
conversations between Austria and
r France rega riding the possibility Of
ter the situation as regards the ma
joritys Of Count Czernin's declarations.
The Austrian foreign ministry. the
statement says, is unable to ascertain
who was Responsible for delivering to
the French what is said. to have been
q forged letter. substituted for the let
ter which was to have been delivered.
Neither Prince Sixtus. whose charac-
ter is beyond suspicion nor anyone else
,is accused of-ifalsif1cation, continues
the statement which concludes:
The affairs herewith declared to
be at an end 80 @
~ Count Czernin did not know of F,ln-
:peror Charles letter to. Prince sixtns
wben he made the statement that
+ France had initiated the. conversa-
nj nasvaith AUSTRIA according to a vi
emma dispatch to- the Iaokal jAn&efger
Of Bsrfiri. s.0n siearning< Of the letter
lie tssfgned but yielded to request
4. that he remain lin Office untfllthe con-
/. clusiona g, Of the pelic greemcnty with
!Ths recent fpubllcatioh BY this
French government OF the futile
peace appeal put out by Emperor
Charles Of Austria III ungary i'm March
1917 and the efforts OF the emperor
and the Austroe Hungarian foreign Of
fee, to explain this letter to the salts
faction of Germany and the German
emperor. probably were the most
potent influences ..in bringing about
the rcsgna ton Of Count Czernin. I
4 Active for Peace.
Since he was appointed foreign
minister on December 90, 1916. Count
Czernin has been apparently very ac-
tite in attempting to bring about
peace. ~
present year Count Czernin in the
Austrian reichsrath on January 25
= euggeeted an exchange of views be-
tween Austria Hungary and the Unit
I'd States But there always was
some thought that his paciflst maneu-
vers were inspired by Berlin in an ef-
fort to bring about a. split among the
~. ID . f. b. T., r.
Said France Sought Peace.
Count 'Czernin on April in an ad-
dress at Vienna declared that Pre-
mier Clemenceau had sought peace
negotiations with Austria. THE
French premier replied that Count
Gxernin lied. The French and Aus
trian Offices then issued statements
explaining the unofficial negotiations
In Switzerland.
Early last week the French gov
ernment declared that Emperor
Charles and Count Czernin both had
said that the claimaof France to AL
Lorraine was Just. This
brought a denial from Emperor
Charles in the form Of telegram to
Emperor William. ITO whom he re-
iterated his loyalty to the German
cause. ,.,5..
Emperor's Letter Published.
This Immediately brought from the
French government the publication OF
( a letter from Emperor Charles to his
hrother-in-law here Prince Sixtus of
Bourbon which was autographed and
to President Poincare. In the letter
the emperor said that France should
have .Alsace-T1orraine and that Bel
gium and Serbia should be restored
He also asked that London and Paris
be felt out as to probable peace terms
Gcsman'Press Ataacks Charles. :
German newspapers have attacked
Emperor Charles and his foreign sec
retary because Of this letter. Attempt,
have been made to show that it wal
not written, by the emperor, 1t ha.
been reported in Vienna that there
was no attempt to hide its authentici.
ty but that the French version. wa.
Earbled. II was also reported tina,
the letter was written. BY the cmper.
or's motheY-i Law. .is 2sss5 Z q { &
Count Czernin was; in ,Rumania
when the letter was published by the
French government and he was sum.
n1oned to Vienna Friday. ssS, !, 5 .t..
In addition to being foreign minis
ter. Count cxernin was premier and
chancellor OF the dual empire. He ID
about 81 yeara. old S3 81
No Naalaing ton Announcement.
sWashinFton, April s. No oflicial
word OF the reported resignation 81
Count Cxerhin had been received BY
}, this government today hut all officialf
were deeply interested In tho repor,
and It was recognized that the devel-
opment undouhtediy was the out
Z growth Of Csernin' st declaration that
Franco had been ready 70 talk peace;