The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-07-18
PEACE DRIVE MUDDLED
Kaiser's Edict to Aus
tan Ruler Indicates
Prussian Will.
DIVERSION IS AIM
People Are to Be Kept
From Thinking Too
Much Of Military
Reverses.
DIVERSION IS AIM

Washington. July 1s.-Dls-
matches received through dipio-
matte channels here today make
manifest the fact that the Ger
man rulers are baffled no less I'm
their military peace drive than
they are In their diplomatic et-
forts in that direction.
The news that an edict from
Berlin has forced Emperor
Charles to accept the resignation
of Premier Won Soldier came with
In a few hours Of the pubiica-
ton OF Count Won Burian's
memorandum TO the presidents OF
the Hungarian and Austrian coun-
ellis. American officials are at
loss 10 explain what would APP
near to be a bIunder which can
have no good effect upon the
morale of the restless peoples OF
Austria and the Jugo-Slav dis
districts.
The only superstition advanced
Is that Won Burian's message. Or
dinartiy a document closely guard
ed, was made public In a desperate
effort to divert the attention OF
thte Austrtans and Polish ctti-
zens from the fact that Won
Soldiers decision relative TO ro-
lands future had been disApprov-
ed In no uncertain terms by the
Prussian military party.
Assuming that such La the case, II
would appear that Germany as con
fdent that Austria Hungary will moi
negotiate a separate peace and woulc
give further curport to the theory o.
many political students that no peace
proposals from Austria are other thar
tentative efforts to feel out the opin'
ion Of the allies for the benefit OF Ger
many.
In view Of the fact that the reich.
rath lis on the eve of assem- bling. tha'
the people are suffering from lack o.
food and that the disaster on the
Piave Ia still fresh in the minds of the
public, officials here were not greatly
surprised that Won Burian permitted
his discussion OF peace to be made
public. 1t lis assumed that the paper
also liz expected to set at rest the
storm of doubt which rose in Austria
when 1t was learned that the kaiser
had been forced to accept the resig
nation of Won kuehlmann. who un,
doubtedly was authorized TO tell the
German people that victory by arm.
could not be expected.
Perhaps the most striking feature
of the paradox is revealed by the plea
of Won Burian that diplomacy should
strictly collaborate with the military
high command; In other words. thai
the latter should not subordinate the
former, Almost at the very moment
this theory is advanced. the Official
bureau at Berlin makes known the fact
lhat%the kaiser has decided that EN-.
Charles tina -,
nation of Premier Won Seidler. whose
chief offensa has been his advocacy
of the administration Of Poland by
Emperor Charles.
Germany's objection to the solution
OF the Polish problem. as agreed upon
by the Polish club OF Vienna and Won
Soldier lies in the fact that It would
give to Austria great military
strength In the future since 1t would
give to the Austrians a state whose
true power in war time has been illus
trated of late. This action OF the
Berlin leaders in placing the military
consideration far above that OF reach
ing a diplomatic agreement which
would hold Austria more closely to
the side of Germany in the present
crisis Is considered here as in direct
conravention of the plea of Won
Burian.
The memorandum Of Won Burian
was undoubtedly written under the di-
rection of the German diplomatic
agents. His recent visit to Berlin was
for no other purpose than to seek ad-
vice an how he might aid in bring
ing about greater support to the
aims OF Germany 1t would appear
that he was told privately that Won
kuehlmann's address before the reich
STAG ~'as net without the direction OF
1.-THE kaiser and Won Burian, 1t is as
sumed by students of the political
situation. was told that he could dc
nothing better than TO offer a paper
which would encourage the hope OF
peace among his people. and which
might also tend to weaken the efforts
of the United States.