Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1918-09-16
AUSTRIA'S APPEAL
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Continued from page one)
many would like to strike the best pos
sible bargain at this time TO save the
Hohenzonern ruRers. But it is regard
ed fully as f1ae that any bargain at
this time would discount the enormous
sacrifices the allies have made without
making the world safe from q German
war threat in the future.
Victory for the allies and America
is too near at hand to lose it through
a basic examination Of peace matters
such as Austria proposed, according to
the view of military and international
affairs experts.
The Austrian proposal which is sent
to all neutral countries and the pope,
says
Unswerving Aim Alleged. "
''With this consciousness, and in its
answering endeavor to work in the in
terests of peace, the Austro-Hungarian
government now again comes forward
with a suggestion with the object of
bringing about a direct discussion be.
tween the enemy powers.
"The earnest will to peace of wide
classes of the population of all the
states who are jointly suffering
through the war-the indisputable ap'
proaehment in individual controversial
questions-as well as the more concili
atory atmosphere that is general, seems
to the Austro- Hungarian government to
give a certain guarantee that fresh
step in the interests of peace, which
also takes accounts of past experiences
in this domain, might at the present
moment offer the possibility of success
Pathfinder Task Volunteered.
"The Austro-Hungarian government
has therefore resolved to point out to
all the beligerents, friend and foe, a
path considered practicable by it and
to propose to them jointly to examine
in flee exchange of views whether
those prerequisites exist which would
make the speedy Inauguration of peace
negotiations appear promising.
"'To this end the Austro- Hungarian
government has today invited the gov.
ernmsnts of all the belligerent states to
a confidential and unbinding discussion
at neutral meeting place, and has ad-
dressed to them note drawn up in this
sense.
"This step has been brought to the
knowledge of the Holy See in special
note, and an appeal thereby made to the
Pope S interest in peace.
Furthermore, the governments of
the neutral states have been acquainted
with the step taken.
The constant close accord which ex.
lists between the four allied powers war,
rants the assumption that the allies Of
Austria Hungary to whom the proposal
is being sent in the same manner, share
the vieks developed in the note."
General Accord Insufficient.
eft is true, it must be remembered.
that an agreement on general principles
is insufficient, but that there remains
the further matter of reaching an accord
upon their Interpretation and their ap.
plication to individual concrete war and
peace questions.
To an unprejudiced observer there
can be no doubt that in all the bellg1er.
ent states, without exception, the desire
for peace Of understanding haz been
strengthened; that the CON
viction is increasingly spreading that
the further continuance Of bloody strug.
gle must transform Europe into ruins
and into a state of exhaustion that will
mar its developments for decades to
this without any guarantee
of thereby bringing about that decision
by arms which has been vainly striven
after by both sides in four years filled
with enormous sacrifices, sufferings and
exertions.
In what manner, however, can the
way be paved for an understanding and
IN understanding finally attained9 Is
there any serious prospect whatever of
this aim by continuing the dis
eussicn of peace problem in the way
hitherto followed9
Earlier Discussions Held Misfits.
"We have not the courage to answer
he latter question in the affirmative
The discussion from one public tribune
to another, as has hitherto taken place
between statesmen Of the various coun,
tries was really only series of mono
ogucs. II lacked, above everything, di-
-ectness. Speech and eounter-speeeh
lid not fit into each other. The speak.
srs spoke over one another's heads.
''0n the other hand were the pub
lefty and the ground of these discus
'ions, which rebbed them of the posse.
dlity of fruitful progress.
"In all public statements of this ma.
-ure, form of eloquenee is used which
with the effect at great dis,
.ances and on the masses. Conscious
y or unconseiously, however, one there.
ly increasing the distance Of the op.
conception, produces misunder.
standings which take riot and are not
removed, and makes the frank ex.
'hange of ideas more difficult.
Every pronouneement of leading !
statesmen is, directly after its adver |
,ary and before the authoritative quar- |
ers Of the opposite side can reply to it |
made the subject of passionate or ex.