The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1918-04-06
ASSERTS AUSTRIA
WAS NEAR PEACE
Foreign Minister Says Teutons
Will Now Enforce Terms,
Not Beg Them.
ENTENTE SENTIMENT CHANGED
Count Says Mailed Fist Methods Are
Necessary to Stop StruggIe-Telis
of "Feele" by Premier
Clemenceau.

London, April Austria Hungary
was recently almost on the point" of
beginning peace negotiations with the
entente, Count Czernin, the Austro-
Hungarian foreign minister, declared
in an address to the Vienna municipal
council. The wind suddenly veered,"
he added, the entente deciding to
await developments in his country,
which caused 1t to hope that the dual
monarchy "would soon be defense
less"
Forced Peace ls Teuton Plan.
London, April AZ do not intend
to go begging for peace or to obtain
1t by entreaties and lamentations, but
to enforce 1t by our moral right and
physical strength" Count Czernin, the
Austro-Hungarian foreign minister, de-
clared In an address to the Vienna mu-
nicipal council here. "Any other tao
tics I consider will contribute to the
prolongation of the war;"
In regard to Bulgaria's claims
against Serbia the foreign minister
said:
Bulgaria must receive from Serbia
certain districts inhabited by Bulgar-
ians. We, however, have no desire to
destroy Serbia. We will enable Serbia
to develop and would welcome closer
economic relations with her."
Lays Peace Move to France.
Count Czernin declared, according
to dispatch from The Hague to the
Daily Mail, that Premier Clemenceau
| II France Ind asized Aust tia Hungary
on WHAT basis siie Would ies'otfnts
peace. Austria replied that the only
obstacle to peace with France was AL
sace-Lorraine and Premier Clemenceau
said that 1t was impossible to nego-
tate on that basis"
"Some time before the western Of
fensive began" Count Czernin said,
"Premier Clemenceau addressed to me
an inquiry whether and upon what ba-
sis I was prepared to negotiate. In
agreement with Berlin, Immediately
replied that I was prepared to nego-
tate and that as far as France was
concerned the only obstacle could
see in the way of peace was the
French desire for Alsace-Lorraine.
The reply from Paris was that 1t was
impossible to negotiate on this basis.
Thereupon there was no choice left.
"The colossal struggle in the west
has already begun. Austro-Hungarlan
and German troops are fighting shout
der to shoulder as they fought in Rus
STA, Serbia, Roumania and Italy. We
are fighting together for the defense
of Austria-H Hungary and Germany.
Come what may we will not sacrifice
Germany's interests any more than she
will leave US In the lurch. We are not
fighting for imperialistic or annexa-
ZIONIST aims for ourselves or for Ger
many"
Had Desire for Peace.
The Austro-Hungarian foreign min.
lister, according to an Amsterdam dis
patch to the Daily Chronicle, declared
also that he had an earnest desire for
peace and that his country wished to
avoid any further military offensive.
After referring to his reply to Premier
Clemenceau regarding ASace-Lorraine,
he said that Austria would insist on
the status quo, adding:
"The aspirations of France and ITALY
aro ,,tnpiaq which will he terribly
avenged"
Count Czernin declared he did not
believe that President Wilson In his
recent address really desired to cause
separation between Vienna and Ber-
lin, because the president knew that
such a thing was impossible. The
count added that President Wilson
probably saw that Austria Hungary
was more favorable toward peace than
Germany.