El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1918-09-16

by the devastating effects Of the
world war il viii not be possible TO
reestabllsh order in the lettering
world at single stroke The path
that leads to the restoration OF peace
ful relations between the peoples is
cut by hatred and embittermenL II
Is tcllEOme and WelrlsOme, yet u IS
our duty TO tread this path-the path
Of negoriauons-and If there are still
such responsible factors as desire 10
overcome the opponent by military
means and 70 face the viii 10 victory
upou him. there can. nevertheless. no
longer be doubt that this aim, even
assuming that II is attainable. would
first necessitate a further sangui-
nary and protracted struggle.
But even a later victorious peace
viii no longer be able TO make good
the consequences OF such q policy
consequences which win be fatal to
all the states and peoples Of Europe.
The only peace which could right
eously adjust the still divergent con-
ceptions Of the opponents would be
q peace desired by all the peoples.
The earnest VIII TO peace Of wide
classes OF the population Of al the
states who are jointly suffering
through the war, as wen as the more
cOnciliatOrv atmosphere that is gen.
eral. seems TO the Austro Hungarian
government 10 give a certain guar
antee that a fresh step in the inter
ests OF peace. which also takes ac-
counts OF past experiences in this do
main, might at the present moment
offer the possibility Of success.
Proposal for Discussion.
The AustrO Hungarian govern
ment has therefore resolved TO point
out 10 all the belliEerents, friend and
foe. a path considered practicable by
10 and TO propose 10 them Jointly 20
examine in a free exchange Of views
Whether those prerequisites exist
which wO-ld make the speedy inau-
Euration Of peace negotiations ap-
pear promising To this end the AUS
tro Hungarian government has today
invited the governments of all the
belligerent states to a confidential
and unblnding discussion at a neu-
trail meeting place, and has addressed
70 them a note drawn up in this
sense.
'-This step has been brought 10 the
knowledge Of the Holy See in a spe-
cial note and an appeal thereby made
10 the pope's interest in peace. Fur
thermore the governments Of neutral
states have been acquainted with the
step taken.
Agreeable to Germany.
The constant close accord which
exists between the four allied pow
ers warrants the assumption that the
allies Of Austria Hungary 20 whom
the proposal is being sent in the same
manner. share the views developed
in the note"
The official telegram proceeds to
say that the note has been drawn up
in French and runs as follows.
The peace offer which the pow
Of the quadruple alliance addressed 10
their opponents on December II. 1916.
and the conciliatOry basic ideas Of
which they have never given UP, sig
mites. despite the rejection which il
experienced, an important stage in
the history Of this war. In contrast
10 the first two and a half war years.
the question OF peace has from that
moment been the center OF European
eve, OF world discussion, and domi-
mates i in ever increasing measure.
Modification Of Aims.
Ut is true that, independent OF all
these oscillations. it can be stated
that the distance between the con-
ceptiOns OF the two sides, has on the
whole grown somewhat less; that de-
spite the indisputable continuance Of
decided and hitherto unbridEed diff
1erences, q partial turning from any
OF the most extreme concrete war
aims is visible and a certain agree
ment upon the relative general basic
principles Of a world peace manifests I
itself In both camps, there is I'M
doubtedly observable in wide classes
Of The population growth Of the viii /
10 peace and understanding
While. for example. the reply OF
the allies 20 president Wilson made I
demands which amounted TO the dis
memberment OF Austria Hungary, TO I
O dimuuiri0n and a deep internal I
transformation Of the German en-
pire and the destruction Of Turkish Z
European ownership. these demands. I
the realization Of which was based I
on the suppOsition OF an 0verwhelm- l
ing victory were later modified IN I
many declarations from official en-
fente quarters or in part were /
dropped.
thus. IN a declaration made IN the /
British house OF commons a year ago,
secretary Balfour expressly recog-
nized that Austria Hungary must it. ]
self solve its internal problems and /
that no one could impose a constitu-
zion upon Germany from the outside. /
Premier Lloyd George declared at I
the beginning Of this year that it /
was not one OF the allies war aims /
10 partition Austr0 Hungary TO rob /
the ot-nrrnn annira Of It's T-rrI-ish |