The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1918-10-21
PRESIDENT SAYS
CERTAIN EVENTS
ALTERED STATUS
These Have Transpired Since
His Speech of Jan. s
HIS REPLY TO AUSTRIA
Insists That Austrian People be the
Judges Of What Will Satisfy Their
Aspirations.
Department of State,
Mashingt0n. Oct. IS, ISIS.


From the Secretary OF State to the
Minister of Sweden
Sir have the honor to acknow-
ledge the receipt of your note Of the
seventh instant in which you transmit
a communication of the Imperial and
Royal Government of Austria-Hun
gary to the President | am now in
structed by the President to request
you TO be good enough through your
government to convey to the Imperial
and Royal Government the following
.eply:
The President deems 1t his duty to
say to the Austro4Hungarian Govern.
ment that he cannot entertain the
present suggestions of that Govern
ment because of certain events OF ut
most importance. which, occurring
since the delivery of his address Of
the eighth Of January last, have neces
sarily altered the attitude and respon-
sibility of the Government Of the
United States. Among the fourteen
terms of peace which the President
formulated at that time, occurred the
fol owing:
X.-The peoples of Austria-Hun,
gary, whose place among the nations
we wish to see safeguarded and as
sured, should be accorded the first
opportunity OF autonomous develop
mem,
Since that sentence was written and
uttered to the Congress of the United
States. the Government OF the United
/ States has recognized that state OF
belligerency exists between the
/ Czechoslovaks and the German and
/ Austro-Hungarian Empires and that
the Czechoslovak National Council is
defaetor belligerent Government
clothed with proper authority to di-
rect the military and political affairs
Z of the Czechoslovaks. II has also
! recognized in the fullest manner the
Justice OF the nationalistie aspirations
Of the Jugo-slavs for freedom.
The President is. therefore. no long
er at liberty to accept the mere auton
omy' of these peoples as a basis OF
peace. but is obliged to insist that
they. and not lie, shall be the judges
of what action on the part Of the Aus
tro-Hungarian Government will salts
fy their aspirations and their concep
ton of their rights, and destiny as
members OF the family OF nations.
Accept. Sir. the renewed assurances
Of my highest consideration
(Signed) Robert Lansing
Official Text of the Note from Aus
iria-Hungary.
Legation of Sweden. Washington, d
C., Oct I. 1918.
Translation)
hxcellenCy:
BY order of my Government have
the honor confidcntia'ly to transmit
herewith to YOU the following com
munication OF the Imperial and Roya
Government of Austria.Hungary t
the President of the United States o.
America.
The Austro-Hungarian Monarchy
which has waged war always and sol,
~ as a defensive war and repeated,
given documentary evidence OF IL
readiness 10 stop the shedding o
DlOOu ana 10 arrive dt Il just ana non
orable peace. hereby addresses itsel
, 10 his Lordship, (Monseigneur in tn,
! French teXt.) the President OF tn,
United of America and offers to con
, olude with him and his allies an arm
! istice on every front on land, at sea
+, and in the air. and to enter immed
r ately upon negotiations for peac
y for which the fourtee points in IN
1 message of President Wilson to Cor
r sress Of January 8, 1918, and the fou
= points contained in President WI
sons address of February u, 1915
D should serve as foundation and 1
, which the viewpoints declared b
D President Wilson in his address q
e September 81. 1918 will also be take
: .ltC account.
g BE pleased to accept. etc,
r (Signed) w. A. +. Ekengren.
S His Excelency Mr. Robert Iansinl
Secretary OF State Of the Unite
states. Washington.