Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1918-10-18
OMIN0US STEPS ARE TAKEN
Charles Prepares for Auton.
omy; Hun Constitution
May BE Modified.
WARFARE LESS BARBAROUS
Reports From Front Tell Of
Less Looting and DeStruc-
ton by Hun Armies.

WASIiINGTON oct. 17.-Signs
multiplied today that Germany and
Austria are hastcnng to re-arrangc
their internal political affairs and
their methods Oi warfare in the hope
OF moc'iNE IN" requirements laid
down by President Wilson In his re-
ply 20 GERMANY peace pruffcr.
There was no indication today when
the German answer would come, but
ihat one would be dispatched was
made more certain by the statements
Of Baron BuriHn. the Austrian
foreign minister before the foreign
affairs committee of the Austrian
parliam mt
Following closely the radical
changes in the German governmental
structure as recorded in cable dis
patches from Amsterdam and Rot
terdam, Information came to the
state department today that the Aus
trlan emperor lad announced to the
foreign affairs committee OF parlia-
ment his purpose 10 grant autonomy
10 the oppressed natiOnalists in the
dual empire. The right 10 autonom
Gus existence for these nationalities
is one OF the paCCy requirements laid
down ny President Wilson.
Conservative Opposition Aroused.
Bitter opposition from the intensely
conservative German and Magyar
compon"nts Of the empire is certain
To be aroused by this radical change
in the system of government, but II
Is belieTed Emperor Charles thinks
this can be oNcrhalanccd by the
measure of support he Will receive
from tie liberal elements and the
separdtist parties. especially II he
can make It appear that the change
is long step toward the final peace
SO insistently demg ndcd by the pOpu-
lace.
The announcement from Copen-
hagen today Of the reading Of "A de
cree in the Hungarian parliament
recognizing Hungary as a separate
state Is regarded as an earnest OF
what IS 20 come to the other nation
alities OF the empire. II has been
suggested che delay in despatching
the presidents reply TO the Austrian
appeal for an armIstlCe may be aC-
counted ior 10y the conviction Of Of
fcials that events are moving 50
raadly IN Austria Hungary that II
would I've wise 10 await the outcome
Of the present agitation there in
order To adapt the reply to the new
conditions.
Germany to Change.
Baron Burian's statement 10 the
foreign affairs committee that Ger
many will make the constitutional
notifications necessary to realize
the demand for a democratic form
NJ government and ahdiCation Of
military control, was rcEa rded as
clearly indicating tho Austrian pur-
pose to do likewise. Events are
moving in the same direction in
Turkey where the sultan has de
clared for a representative govern
ment. so that the conclusion Is lr-
resistible that the whole program Of
constitutional reform now under
way is the result Of an agreemnt
between the three allies to meet one
Of the presidents conditions for a
cessation Of hustilities.
Baron Burian's statement that
Germany will be in "A position to ac-
cept the presidents demands re-
CardinE the humanization OF tho
war. appears n he borne out In "A
measure by reports from the battle
front In Belgium and northern
France that tho Germans are not
looting and destroying private prop-
erty as heretofore. II this is fol-
lowed by the abandonment of sub
marine attacks on merchant ship
ping. officials feel that the priuci-
nal obstacle in tho way OF an ad-
ustment will he found only in the
arrangement OF an armistice.
To Resist AImistiCc Plans.
There is no doubt that the Ger
mans will make desperate effort 10
resist the announced purpose Of the
president to leave the terms of an
lrmistiCc to the military COM
manders Of the American and allied
forces. and IL may he sometime he
fore they are sufficiently humbled
in spirit to admit that Il is not for
them to dictate. but simply to ac-
cent such terms AZ these military
commanders may choose to impose.
In fact, Baron Buridn's address he
fore the Austrian committee is taken
to indicate clearly that Germany de-
sircS to enter into negotiations on
these points and will cling obstinate
" 10 its plan Of a mixed commits
sion TO deal with the matter of
evacuation.