The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1918-04-18
FRENCH IPOSE
GUSTS | ! |CR|V|N.
Repudiated by Emperor, Leader
OF Teuton Peace Efforts Is
Forced to Resign From
Premiership.
LETTER FAXED, IS CLAIM
to Have Incurred Wrath
Of Pan Germans His Views
on Alsace Lorraine Led
to Downfall.
LETTER FAXED, is CLAIM
BY Associated Press.

SlcnHa, mas r6SlRN0Q.
Emperor Charles accented the resig-
nation and entrusted Count Czernin
with the conduct Of foreign affairs I'M
TIL his successor is appointed.
An official statement received today
from Vienna asserts that the latest
statements of the French premier. M
Clemenceau, concerning the conyersa-
lions between Austria and France re-
garding the possibility Of opening
peace negotiations do not alter the sit.
uatton as regards the majority OF
Count Czernin's declarations. The Aus.
TRAN foreign ministry, the statement
says, is unable to ascertain who Is re-
sponsiblc for delivering to the French
what Is said to have been forged let
ter, substituted for the letter which
was to have been delivered.
Neither Prince Sixtus, whose char
acter is beyond suspicion. nor any one
else is accused OF Justification, says
the statement, which concludes:
.'The affair is herewith declared to
be at an end
The recent publication by the French
government OF the futile peace appeal
by Emperor Charles. OF Austria Hun
gary, in March. 1917, and the efforts OF
the emperor and the Austro-Hungarlan
foreign office to explain this letter TO
the satisfaction of Germany and the
German emperor, probably were the
the resignation Of Count CZernin.
Leader of Peace Move.
Since he was appointed foreign min
lister on December %, 1916, in success
sion 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
chanceliors and 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.
In the peace offensive" of the pres
'ent year. Count Czernin in the Austrian
reichsrath on January rs 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 annexations or indemnities, but
there always was some doubt whether
his pacifist offers were honest or We're
inspired by Berlin In an effort to bring
about split among the entente allies.
Called Liar by Clemenceau.
Count Czernin on April in an adj
dress at Vienna declared that Premier
Clemenceau had sought peace negotia-
tons with Austria. The French pre-
The French and Austrian officials then
issued statements explaining the I'M
official negotiations in Switzerland.
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 tele-
gram to Emperor William to whom he
reiterated his loyalty to the German
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
.brotherinlaW, Prince Sixtus. of Rour-
bon, which was autographed and which
the emperor asked be given President
Poincaire.
Letter Hard to Explain.
In the letter the emperor said that
France sho1ld have Alsace- Lorraine
and that Belgium and Serbia should be
restored. He also asked that London
and Paris be felt out as to probable
peace terms.
German newspapers have attacked
Emperor Charles and his foreign secre-
tary because of this letter and ATTEMPTS
have been made to show that it was
not written.by the emperor. 1t has been
reported in Vienna that there was no
attempt to hide it's authenticity, but
that the French version was garbled
1t was also reported that the letter was
written by the emperor's motherinlaw
Count Czernin was in Rumania when
the letter was published by the French
government and he was summoned to
Vienna Friday.
Count Ottokar Czernin Won Chu
denitz.. wealthy Bohemian landowner
was minister to Russia when that coun-
try entered the war Within six weeks
after the death Of Emperor Francis
Joseph, Count Czernin was appointed
foreign minister by Emperor Charles.
Count Czernin is very close friend of
Count Berchthold, foreign minister at
the outbreak OF the war. and who has
been reported as the political mentor of
the young emperor. Count BerchtoId
has been opposed to the pan German
war party and his resignation was
brought about by them.
In addition to being foreign minister
count Czernin was premier and chan
cellor OF the dual empire. He is about
GIL years old.