Republican farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1810-1920, 1918-04-05
Count Czernin Asserts
Loyalty to Cause of
Hun Ally.
NATION RECENTLY
WAS NEAR PEACE
Terrible Revenge Will
Be Inflicted Upon
Italy and France.

London, April 3 - Austria
Hungary recently was almost
on the point" of beginning
peace negotiations with the En-
tente, Count Czernin, the Aus
tro-Hungarian foreign minis
ter, declared yesterday in an
address to the Vienna munici-
pal council. The wind sud
denly veered," he added, the
Entente deciding to await de-
velopments in his country
which caused it to hope the
dual monarchy would soon be
defenseless."
The foreign minister's words were:
Recently we were almost on the
point of entering negotiations with
the western powers, when the wind
suddenly veered round, and as we
know with certainty, the Entente de-
cided it had better wait, as parlia-
mentary and political events in our
country justified the hope that the
monarchy would soon be defenseless.
Czernin declared Premier Clemen-
ceau of France had asked Austria
Hungary on what basis she would ne
gotiate peace. Austria replied that
the only obstacle to peace with France
was Alsace-Lorraine and Premier
Clemenceau said it was impossible to
negotiate on that basis.
''Some time before the western Of
fensive began" Count Czernin said,
premier Clemenceau addressed to
me an inquiry whether and on what
basis 1 was prepared to negotiate. In
agreement with Berlin l Immediately
replied that 1 was prepared to ne
gotiate and that as far as France was
concerned the only obstacle I could
see in the way of peace was the
French desire for Alsace-Lorraine.
The reply from Paris was that it was
impossible to negotiate on this basis.
Thereupon there was no choice left.
ct do not intend to go begging for
peace or to obtain it by entreaties
and lamentations, but to enforce it
by our moral right and physical
ANY other tactics 1 consider will
contribute to the prolongation Of the
war"
In regard to Bulgarian claims
against Serbia the foreign minister
said:
Bulgaria must reaeive from Ser
bia certain districts inhabited by Bull
garians. We, however, have no de-
n 20 r. a will on.
able Serbia to develop, and would
welcome closer economic relations
with her"
"Since 1 came into Office" declared
Count Czernin, 'I have striven only
after one aim, namely TO obtain an
honorable peace to the monarchy and
to create a situation which will Sc
cure to Austria Hungary her future
free development and moreover, to do
everything possible to insure that this
terrible war will be the last for time
out of mind 1 have never spoken
differently"
Count Czernin added, however, his
declaration that he had no intention
of begging for peace.
1.-THE colossal struggle in the west
already has begun. Austro-Hun-
RaTldn anu GSTIldll llOOpS AAbhI-
ing shoulder to shoulder as they
fought in Russia, Serbia, Rumanie
and Italy. We are fighting together
for the defense of Austria-Hungary
and Germany. Come what may, we
will not sacrifice Germanys interest:
any more than she will leave us II
the lurch. We are not fighting fol
imperialistic or annexationist aims fol
ourselves or for Germany"
The Austro- Hungarian foreign min
lister, according to an Amsterdam dis
patch, declared also that he had al
earnest desire for peace and that hi
country wished to avoid any further
military offensive. After referring Il
his reply to Premier Clemenceau re
garding Alsace-Lorraine he said Aus
tria would insist on the status quo
adding:
1.-The aspiration of France and Ital,
are Utopias which will be terribl,
avenged"
Count Czernin declared he did no
believe that President Wilson in hi
recent address really desired to caus
a separation between Vienna and Der
lin because the president knew tina
such a thing was impossible. TIL
Count added that President Wilso
probably saw that Austria Hungar
was more favorable toward peace tina
Germany.