The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1918-04-15

Amsterdam, April is. - Count
Czernin, the Austro-Hungarian
foreign minister, according to a
dispatch from Vienna, has re-
signed.
I Emperor Charles accepted the
! resignation and entrusted Count
Czernin with the conduct of for
eign affairs until his successor is
appointed.
Claim Letter Was Forged.
An official statement received here
today from Vienna asserts that the
! latest statements of the French pre-
mier, M. Clemenceau, concerning the
conversations between Austria and
France regarding the possibility of
opening peace negotiations do not al
ter the situation as regards the ma
iority of Count Czernin's declarations.
The Austrian foreign ministry, the
statement says, is unable to ascertain
who was responsible for delivering to
the French what Is said to have been
forged letter, substituted for the let
ter which was to have been delivered.
Neither Prince Sixtus, whose charac-
ter Is beyond suspicion, nor any one
else Is accused of Justification, con-
tinues the statement, which concludes:
1.-The affair is herewith declared to
be at an end"
The recent publication by the French
government of the futile peace appeal
sent out by Emperor Charles, of Aus
tra- Hungary, in March, 1917, and the
efforts of the emperor and the Austro-
Hungarian foreign office to explain this
letter to the satisfaction of Germany
and the German emperor probably were
the most potent influence in bringing
about the resignation of Count Ger
min.
Since he was appointed foreign min
lister, on Dec. 23, 1916, in succession to
Baron Burian, Count Czernin has been
very active in attempting to bring
about peace and the moderate tone of
his speeches has been in sharp con-
trast with that of the German chan
cellories and the foreign secretaries.
However, his participation In the
forced peace upon Russia, as well as
that upon Rumania, did not show that
his actions kept step with his words.
Doubt as to Honesty.
In the peace offensive" of the pres
ent year. Count Czernin, in the Aus
trian reichsrath on Jan. 25. suggested
an exchange of views between Austria
Hungary and the United States. He
announced also that Austria based her
negotiations with Russia on the policy
of no annexation or indemnities, but
there always was some doubt whether
his pacifst maneuvers were honest or
were inspired by Berlin in an effort to
bring about a split among the entente
allies.
Count Czernin, on April 4. in an ad-
dress at Vienna declared that Premier
Clemenceau had sought peace negotia-
tions with Austria. The French pre-
mier replied that Count Czernin lied.
The French and Austrian foreign Of
fees then issued statements explain
ing the unofficial negotiations in Swift
zerland. i
Early last week the French govern
ment declared that Emperor Charles
and Count Czernin both had said that
the claim of France to Alsace- Lorraine
was just. This brought a denial from
Emperor Charles in the form of a tel
egram to Emperor William, TO whom
he reiterated his loyalty 20 the Ger
man cause and denied that he had
said France was justified in wanting
Alsace- Lorraine returned.
This Immediately brought from the
French government the publication OF
letter from Emperor Charles to his
brother-i law, Prince Sixtus, which
the emperor asked be given TO Presi-
dent Poincare. In the letter the en-
peror said that France should have
Alsace Lorraine and that Belgium and
Serbia should be restored. He also
asked that London and Paris be felt
out ms to probable peace terms.
German newspapers have attacked
both Emperor Charles and his foreign
secretary because OF this letter and at
tempts have been made TO show that
It was not written by the emperor. "
has been reported in Vienna that there
was no attempt to hide fits authentic
ity. but that the French version was
rarbled. II has also been reported
that tho letter was written by the en-
peror's mother-in-la law.
Count Czernin was in Rumania when
the letter was published by the French
government and he was summoned 10
Vienna Friday.
Count Ottokar czernin Won Chude-
nitz, a wealthy Bohemian landowner.
was minister to Russia when that
country entered the war. Within six
weeks after the death 81 Emperor
Francis Joseph. Count Czernin was ap-
pointed foreign minister by Emperor
Charles. Count Czernin IL very close
friend of Count Berchtold. foreign
minister ~ the outbreak 81 the war.
and who had been represented as the
political mentor or the young emperor
Count Bcrchtold has hecn opposed 70
the PAN German war party and HE
resignation was brought about -