Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-04-03
TEUTONPLAN
is LAUNCHED
BY CzERNIN
Washington Not Inter
ested in Move-Re-
garded Kaiser Trick.

London, April 3-Austria-
Hungary was recently @almOst
on the point OF beginning
peace negotiations with the en-
tente, Count CzerniR, the AUS
rO-Hungarian foreign minis
ter. declared yesterday In an
address to the Vienna munich
pal council.
@Suddenly yeered,' he added
the entente deciding to await
developments In his country
which caused IL 10 hope that
the dual monarchy "wOuld soon
be defenseless."
The foreign minister's words
were:
Recently we were almost on the
point OF entering into negotiations
with the western powers, when the
wind suddenly veered around, ana,
as we know with certainty. the en-
tente decided 1t had better walt. as
parliamentary and political events
in our country justified the hope
that the monarchy would soon be
defenseless."
II do not intend to go begging for
peace or to obtain it by entreaties
and lamentations. but to enforce II
by our moral right and physical
strength" Count Czernin, the Aus
ro-Hungarian foreign minister de-
clared in an address to the Vienna
municipal council On Tuesday.
Any other tactics l consider Will
contribute to the prolongation OF
the war"
In regard to Bulgaria's claim
against Serbia the foreign minister
said:
Bulgaria must receive from Ser
bia certain districts inhabited by
Bulgarians. We, however, have no
desire to destroy Serbia. We will
enable Serbia to develop and would
welcome closer economic relations
with her"
Peace His Only Aim.
"Since / came to Office" declared
Counnt Czernin, Il have striven
only after one aim, namely, to Sc
cure an honorable peace to ths
monarchy -and 10 create a sttua-
tion which will secure to Austria
Hungary her future free develop
thing possible TO ensure that this
terrible war will be the last one
for time out OF mind. ! have never
spoken differently"
Count Czernin added here. how
ever, his declaration that he had no
intention of beginning for peace.
France Asked Peace Termsi
Count CZe rnin, the Austro-hun-
garian foreign minister. in an ad-
dress to the Vienna municipal coun-
ell Tuesday declared that before
the western offensive began, Pre-
mier Clemenceau of France had
asked Austria-Hungary on what
basis she would negotiate peace,
according to a dispatch from the
Hague TO the Daily Mail. Austria
replied that the only obstacle TO
peace was Frances desire for AL
sace-Lorraine and Premier Clem-
enceau said that it was impossible
to negotiate on that basis.
I'VE are fighting for the defense
of Austria-Hungary and Germany
said Count CZernin, "Come what
may, we will not sacrifice Ger
many's interest any more than she
will leave us in the lurch. We are
not fighting for imperialistic or an
nexation aims for ourselves or for
Germany"
Want To Avoid Fighting.
The Austro-Hungarian foreign
minister. according to an Amster-
dam dispatch, declared also that he
had an earnest desire for peace
and that his country wished 20
avoid any further military ohens-
I've. After referring to his reply to
Premier Clemenceau regarding Al
sace-Lorraine, he said that Aus
tria would insist on the status quo,
adding the aspirations OF France
and Italy are Utopians which viii
be terribly avenged"
New "Peace Offensive
Washington. April Count
Czernin's statement that French
suggested peace with Austria Hun
gary was characterized BY officials
here today as the beginaing OF Il
new German peace offensive with
the Austro- Hungarian foreign mln-
lister acting at Germany's behest
The speech OF Count Czernin, it
was declared. was a political ma
neuyer designed TO spread the im-
preston IN the allied countries that
the allied governments are lighting
solely 10 recover Alsace Lorraine.
The peace move. they said. was
timed 10 follow the breakdown OF
the Teutonic military offensive
Any Teutonic suggestions that
the time for peace discussions Is
near at hand will find nothing but
negative response IN America.
Words Branded False.
Count Czernin's declaration THAI
Austro-Hungary almost was on the
point OF beginning peace negotia-
tions with the entente was branded
by officials as false. IL was said
that no suggestions OF such a dis
cussiOn had reached Washington
and that n they had been made
this government would have been
informed.
Officials characterized the for
eign minister's speech as 'feel-
er" which probably would be fol-
lowed by some declaration or an-