Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1918-09-21

! and to propose to them pointly to
| examine IN free exchange OF views
whether those prerequisites exist
which would make the speedy inaugu
tration Of peace negotiations appear
promising. TO this end the Austro-
| Hungarian government has today in
vited the governments Of all the bel
| ligercnt States to q confidential and
| unbnding discussion at neutral
meeting place, and las addressed to
! them Il note drawn up in this sense.
"This step has been brought to
| the knowledge of the Holy Sec in
special note, and an appeal thereby
! made to the Pope's interest in peace.
| Furthermore, the governments of the
neutral states have been acquainted
| with the step taken.
| AUSTRIA'S ALLIES SHARE VIEWS
| EXPRESSED IN NOTE.
''The constant close accord which
exists between the four allied powers
warrants the assumption that the
tallicS Of Austria-Hungary, to whom
the proposal is being sent in the
same manner, share the views devel
Soped in the note.
The official telegram proceeds to
say that the note has been drawn
up in French and runs rs follows:
"Thc peace offer which the powers
iof the Quadruple alliance addressed
to their opponents on December -,
1915, and the cOnCiliatory basic ideas
Of which they have never given up.
signifies despite the rejection which
it experienced, an important stage in
the history Of this war. In contrast
| a n In
the question Of peace has from that
moment been tho center OF European
aye, Of world discussion, and domi-
mates 1t in cVcr-incrcasing measure.
I almost all tho bclligorcnt states
have in turn again and again cX-
pressed themselves on the question
of peace, its prerequisites and con-
ditions. Tho line Of development of
this discussion, however, has not
been uniform and steady. The basic
standpoint changed under the iniiu-
cncc Of the military and political
position, ana hitherto, at any rate, it
has not led to tangible general
result that could be utilized.
at is true that, independent Of all
these oscillations, it can be stated
that the distance between the conccp
tons of the two sides has, on the
!
idespitc tho indisputablc continuance
Of decided and hitherto unbridgcd
idiifcrcnccs, n partial turning from
many of the most extreme concrete
war aims is visible and certain
3agrecmcnt upon the relative general
| basic principles OF y world peace
manifcSts itself In both camps
there is undoubtedly observable in
Jwidc classes Of the population Il
growth Of the will to peace and under
standing. Moreover, 4 comparison
OF tho reception Of the peace propos.
: al OF the powers of the Quailruple
}alliancc on part of their opponents
with the later utterances OF RESPONSE
bic statesmen of the latter, as we'll
as OF the nonresponsible but, in Il
political respect nowise uninnuential
: personalities, confirms this impress
sion.
"While, for example, the reply of
the allies to President Wilson made
demands which amounted to the dis
mcmberment of Austria-Hungary to
"a diminution and a deep internal
transformation Of tho German EN-
spirc and the destruction OF Turkish
European ownership, these demands
1.-THE realization of which was based
on the suppOsition of an overwhclm-
ing victory, were later modified in
many declarations from official on.
tente quarters, or in part we're
dropped.
3NOTE QUOTES ADDRESSES or
] BALFOUR AND LLOYD GEORGE.
"Thus, in a declaration made in
the British House Of Commons a
jycar ago, Secretary Balfour expressly
recognized that Austria Hungary
must itself solve it's internal prob
lens and that no one could impose
a constitution upon Germany from
the outside. Premier Lloyd George
sdeclared at the beginning of this
Sycar that 1T was not ono OF tho allies
2war aims to partition Austria-Hun
fgary, to rob the Ottoman empire of
! its Turkish provinces or to reform
Germany internally. 1t may also
be considered symptomatic that in
December, 1917, Mr.. Balfour cate
dgorically repudiated the assumption
that British policy. had ever engaged
itself for the creation Of an indepen
dent state out of the territories on
the left bank of the Rhine.
1.-THE central powers leave it in no
doubt that they are only waging a
twar Of defense for the integrity and
the security of their territories.
Far more outspoken than in the
domain Of concrete war aims has the
Irapprochcment Of conceptions pro-
ceeded regarding those guiding lines
upon the basis Of which peace shall
be concluded and the future order Of
Europe and the world built up. In
this direction, President Wilson, in
his speeches OF February 10 and July
IA Of this year, has formulated princi-
pies which have not encountered
contradiction on the part Of his allies
and the far-roaching application Of
'Gwhlch Is likely to meet with no