Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-04-04

i statement of Count Czernin that r
y the former had inquired through II
II an intermediary whether Austria
Il Hungary WAS ready to negoti ate, y
= and, if so, on what basis. II
y The Premier left Paris for the X
II front this morning and learned OF
- Czernin's speech on arriving there
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Washington. April 1.-The German
peace drive is on. IL was launched yes
tcrdav bv Count Czcrnin, Austro-aun-
rarian Minister for Foreign Affairs,
when he told delegation from the
Vienna Municipal Council that the only
obstacle TO an ending OF the war WAS
the attitude of France with respect to
Alsace-I orraine. Officials here were
erlick 70 interpret Count Czernin's speech
rs Dart and parcel of the great German
military offensive in Picardy. They
believe that il was timed to tit IN with
The lull in the fierce fighting that has been
Going on since March II IN Northern
France
As the German armies tined TO make
n military wedge between the Brlush
and French forces. so their statesmen
arc now trying 10 drive q political wedge
between the British and French gov
crnments. That is how officials In Wash
jngton Wow the situation as developed In
thc sDeech Of the Austrian foreign minister.
They are Of the opinion that the main
object Of the SDecch was to create feel
INC AGAINST, France among British-and
DC-hapS Frcnch-workcrS, and produce
!. sentiment for peace in allied countries
on the basis of Gernany's retention OF
Alsace-I .orraine Put IN smother way,
Germany has sought 10 make the people
az the Allied nations believe that she WAS
aud is ready for peace but Is prevented
from entering into negotiations because
the French government insists that the
recession OF the lost provinces shall be
basic principle of the peace agreement.
T~crTING CLEMESc EAU : CRITICS.
In his speech Count Csernin declared
that some time before the Teutonlc Of
fcnsive in the west was begun NJ. Glenn
enccau. the Prime Minister OF France,
addressed TO him an inquiry rs to the
basis ypon which Count Czcrnn would
be willing TO negotiate for peace. When
Count Czernin answered that the only
obstacle which he could sec was the
French desire for Alsace-LorraIne NJ.
Clemenceau, according TO the Austro-
Hungarian statesman, responded that it
was impossible to negotiate on that basis.
The whole inference from Count
Czernin's remarks is that NJ. Clemenccau
sought peace, perhaps without the knowl-
edge Of the other Alhes. found Germany
and Austria willing. and then, for some
cause.-The wind suddenly veered, was
the way Count Czernin phrased It-thc
French Premier used the question Of
AlSace-Lorralne as an excuse for not
following up his overtures.
\ press dispatch from Paris this after
noon saws that all NJ. Clemenccau would
say in reply to the Czcrnin charge was
''Czernin lied " The opinion was ex-
pressed here that the matter Will not
rest with this terse denial, but Will be
brought forward by Clemenceau' critics
In a demand for fuller explanation,
This, il is believed IN Washington, is
exactly what is desired by Berlin, for
no doubt is felt that Csernin's S speech
was s4made in GERMANY. That Count
Czernin made the allegation against NJ.
Clemenceau is attributed to German ar
r.anrement, for II is well realized in Ber-
lin that 8 greater amount of respecta-
bility NAV be attached TO utterances
of the Austrian statesman than 10 any
thing emanating from member Of
the ruling Prussian group which has
SO often violated its pledged word IN
dealing with other nations
CALLED SIGN OF TEUToN WEAKNESS
As officials IN Washington look upon
tire effect of the CZernIn speech IT de-
notes q sign of German weakness in the
great offensive In Picardy. If the drive
had been successful, it is argued, Ger
MANY would not be putting out peace
feelers, but would be better satisfied
to drive on until she was in possession
OF the Channel ports and had separated
the French and British armies, as she
undoubtedly set out 10 do. With the
allied forces apart, the Channel ports
and perhaps Paris In the possession Of
German troops, the Prussian ruling group
might be willing to discuss peace, but only
German peace, the peace OF the victor.
That Germany, IN the midst of the
drive, with her object not accomplished,
should seek to create the impression
that she Is once more ready TO end the
war. is regarded here as practically
equivalent TO an admission that the cur
rent offensive was intended as the last
desperate effort on GerInanys part to
crush her enemies and that the effort
has failed Prior 10 the great drive the
idea prevailed in some quarters that
Germany contemplated making one more
supreme endeavOr to brng Great Britain
and France to terms, and that If this
failed there would be a serious situa-
ton among the German soldiers and
people who had been led to believe that
their government was invincible
ATTEMPT TO INFLUENCE LABOR.
That Count Czermn's speech in Vienna
was partly OF German manufacture is
to be inferred from his several refer
ences indicating that he spoke in con-
formity with the ideas of the German
government. Ii was suggested here YES
terday that Germany probably thinks that
the British laborites will use Count
Czernln's statements as a basis for de-
that the British government
explain if the war is being continued
merely in order that France may regain