The sun., 1918-09-17
BOOMERANG FEARED
BY GERMAN PAPERS
Vienna's Move Welcome, but
Little Hope Is Expressed Of
Successful Outcome.
WARN AGAINST OPTIMISM
Some Editors Believe Note
Will Cause Allies to Increase
Their Military Efforts.
Special Cobie Despatch TO THn suS from the
London Times Serpice

Special Cobie Despatch TO Tine srS from the
London Times Serpice
COPYRIGHT. 1918; oil rights reserved.
THE HAGUE. Sept. ls.-German news
paper comment on the Vienna peace
note takes the line Of throwing all re-
sponsibility upon Austria. This is done
with such emphasis and unanimity as
TO make 1t certain that that course Is
pursued In accordance with orders from
the German Foreign Office.
Briefly paraphrased the comment
amounts to I'VE shall be delighted II
anything comes OF II, but IL not we
decline all responsibility in advance and
on the whole think the step III advised"
After the visits of Chancellor Won
Hertling and Foreign Secretary Won
Hintze to Vienna the attempts to rep
resent a step Of this Importance as
presumes too much on humamn credu-
lily.
AMSTERDAM, Sept. 16.-Although the
peace move launched. by Vienna finds a
favorable welcome in the German news
papers. fear is expressed that the pro-
posal will not bring peace or dis
cusson OF terms. In fact. some OF the
German newspapers arriving here ex-
press the opinion that the cause or the
Central Powers may be injured by the
Austrian move and that the Allied Pow
ers will redouble the~ efforts to gain
a crushing military victory.
Summarized the German newspapers
express the opinion that the Austrian
communication will do no real good and
may cause HARM since II may be In
terpreted as sign OF weakness OF the
Germanic Powers and thek allies.
The Berlin Taoebldtt editorially ex-
presses the opinion that the independent
action OF Austria Hungary probably
will cause the Entente to redouble its
military efforts. The Austro- Hungarian
offer coming on top OF the programme
enunciated by Vice-Chance!lor Won
Payer, 1t comments, betrays bad stage
management
With all respect to the nobility Of
the Austro-Hungarian Governments
motives. the Taoebldtt adds. this was
not a psychological moment for the
move as far as the Entente was con-
cerned. The editorial also expresses
disappointment that no mention was
made in the note Of the crucial Alsace-
Lorraine question.
The peace initiative should have been
left to the Entente Allies. according TO
the TdOesSeituno of Berlin. The fate OF
all previous announcements, as TO readl-
ness for peace and a conciliatory spirit
on the part of the Central Powers does
not encourage great hopes that this Of
fer will meet with great success" the
newspaper says. ct must naturally en-
counter great skepticism on our part"
After our experiences hitherto with
peace proposals." says the Lokaidnsei-
ger, I'VE cannot help feeling thoroughly
skeptical."
Austria's move may prove quite a
risky STEP says the Neueste Ndch-
riohten of Berlin. The Boersen Zeituno
places no very great hope in the OFFER
and the Berlin Post fears the offer will
be interpreted by Entente countries as
weakness and sign OF impending col
lapse, as well as a begging for peace. on
the part OF the Central empires
warns Against Hasty Optimism.
"A discussion Of the timeliness of the
Austrian step Is useless" says the Vor-
,raerts. Once II was made without the
German Government taking a similar
step there Is nothing for. Germany to do
but give It's adhesion. That is the only
way of preventing harmful effects and
permitting the good effects to be fully
will be welcomed by the widest circles
of the German people and many hopes
will be placed in It, but II is necessary
to utter q warning against overhasty OPP
timism."
Through the fault of both sides OBJ
stacles to peace have been piled noun
tain high" says the Kreusseitun0. which
fears that the Austrian note will be fu-
tile and may even lead to a result oppo-
site to that intended.
"Ail the Ill success which similar steps
by the Central Powers have encountered
from the Entente Allies has not taught
the Austro-H Hungarian Cabinet any
thing" says the Tde0lisohe Rundschou
ut is absolutely uncomfortable what mo-
tive induced the Austro- Hungarian Gov
eminent now to officially repeat the ster
taken in the letter to Prince Sixtus."
The Deutsche Zeitung says: ''The Ill
success which has hitherto attended our
peace offers does not encourage us to
hope for much from Count Burian's pro-
posals for the promotion of the peace
idea. That. OF course, should not pre-
vent the German Government from ex-
amining the Austro- Hungarian note
benevolently and thoroughly"
Vienna Papers Are BelliEerent.
The Vienna papers point out en-
phatically that the monarchy undertook
the step with the knowledge OF its al
lies but declare that the action Itself
was exclusively Austro- Hungarian. They
assert further in this connection that
the indestructibllity of the alliance Of
the monarchy with Its friends. and par
ticularly the fraternal cordially OF thu
relationship with Germany, most de
cidedIy disposes in advance Of tn,
slightest attempt at misinterpreta
ton, as II in It's intentions and III
consequences It could lead to Austria
Hungary taking an independent position
The Fremdenbldtt declares 1t Is self
evident that Austria Hungary only speaks
In 30 important matter after having
acquainted herewith it's friends. a
whose side It has been fighting for years
adds the paper. Il