Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1918-02-01
WITH FINGERS CROSSED.

There is ample reason to believe the
stories which come out of Austria
Hungary regarding peace demonstra-
tons; much more reason for that,
indeed, than there is for crediting the
signs of discord between the govern
ments Of Vienna and Berlin them
selves. 1t is noteworthy that Count
CZernin makes the unqualified declar-
alton that Austria-Hungary is ready to
negotiate a separate peace with Rus
STA on the basis of no annexations and
no indemnities, while he modifies his
expression of apparent desire for a
peace with America by saying that
Austria, must. of course, support the
position Of her ally.
A peace between Austria Hungary
and Russia would leave Germany un.
embarrassed in her dealing with the
bolsheviki, for it is Germany and moi
Austria which has occupied Russian
territory. Poland has what the Teu-
tons call an independent government,
and Austria would insist on that view
being shared by Russia as basis for
peace.
With a treaty between Austria-Hun-
gary and Russia, the Austrians would
be able to assuage the hunger of their
people by bringing supplies from Rus
sia This is being done already, Of
course, but to only a limited extent
and under difficulties which would be
removed were peace declared. The
same arrangement would make it pos
sible for Germany to obtain Russian
food stuffs through the Austrians even
should be proceeding.
Teutonic diplomacy. as it has been
revealed during the Brest-Litovsk
parleys. is an intricate affair. 1t may
lay down principle at the beginning
Of a conference without giving any in
dication that it will be followed dur
ing the discussions. Thus Count
Czernin may with impunity tell the
bolsheviki he favors their platform Of
no anneXations and no indemnities,
only to demand so many concessions
during the conferences that the basis
will become only an idle phrase This
would be only tearing leaf from Ger
manys book, for it is exactly what
the kaiser's representatives have done
in their farcial parleys with Trotzky
and his followers.
The Austro-H Hungarian public is not
so tractable as the German public
The mailed fist has a more difficult
task in Emperor Charles domain than
in that of Emperor William. Austria
Hungary was not SO carefully
schooled in absolutism as was Ger
many in all those years between 1871
and 1914. "Kultur" as it is known in
Germany, is a rallying cry only among
the Germans in the country of the
kaiser's ally. The mixture of races
particularly in Hungary does not lend
itself to the sort Of propaganda that
has enabled the German government
people whom it drives under the yoke
of the most despicable autocracy of
modern times
It would mean much for the safety
of Emperor Charles throne and for
the firmness with which he retains his
sceptre II his ENJOYS should be- able to
conclude separate peace with Russia
1t would go far toward quieting the
unrest within his empire and kingdom.
1t would supply his spokesman with a
potent argument to convince the rad.
ical spirits that the government is sin.
cere in its desire for peace
On the other hand. negotiations
with the United States could not be
conducted as are those with Russia.
Count Czernin realized this when he
made his speech last week.> His dec.
laration that Austria could, in his opin-
ion. discuss peace with the United
States on the basis OF President VIII
sons peace terms. was uttered to i'm.
press the proletariat in Austria-Hun
gary. It was the final statement, that
Austria must support the territorial
demands OF Germany, which was ad.
ded for Americas consideration. It
was as if the premier had shouted
across the sea to Washington: Let
us have peace" and displayed his
fingers crossed, so that President vii.
son might see them while they were
hidden from the Austro-Hungarian
public.