Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1918-09-16
AUSTRIAN PEACE OFFER
Dual Monarchy Used by Scheming
German Diplomats as Cats Paw.

London, Sept. 16.--The Sve54 4
minister has received the Au, ia.
peace note and will deliver it j., -,
British foreign office today.
! Amsterdam, Sept. 16.--A "con ,..
tal' non-binding discussion at 81
tlal meeting place is proposed by IS
| trla- Hungary in the official c-
!hent issued at Vienna yesterday 7,,
tire full text of which reached s,.
yesterday.
A note inviting all helligere,,
.rend and foe-to enter into 81 h
discussion has been sent by the
trG-Hungarian government to al
countries at war, the unprecend, /
procedure of addressing its enc r
directly being chosen by Vienna
1t is not an invitation to lea,r
conference, but to free eXchan; d;
| "iews of the question as to win s-G
tne prerequisites exist that ma y
speedy inauguration of peace neg q
tions promising"
Amsterdam, Sept. 15.-Folowi s
the text of the official statemen
sued at Vienna yesterday propc
leace:
conscientious examination of
the situation in all the bellige
states no longer leaves any doubt
I'll peoples long for speedy en-
the Bloody struggle.
"The Austro-Hungarian COY
ment, therefore, has resolved to 81,
out to all belligerents--friend anc s,n
"a practical path.
at proposes that they jointly
anime in a free exchange Of views e"
question as to whether the prert
sites exist to make speedy inaug
ton of peace by negotiation pro
ing.
Austria -Hmgary invites the /
lieerents to a confidential non-bnd-
ing discussion at neutral meeting
n1acc and has addressed to them a
note to this effect.
"The step has been brought to the
knowledge of the Pope in special
note"
Paris, Sept. 1G.-"The ,rst sincere
whine for peace" is the cisaracteriaa-
lion heard in Paris last night where
ever the reported Austro-Hungarian
peace offer was discussed. Derisive
rejection by the whole French press
may, however be safely anticipated
"This is no time for 4 nonbinding
discussion, of peace" said one PROM
incnt French journalist in private
conversation. "Unqucstionably the
cffer is sincere this time. The CEN
tial powers see at last the hand
writing on the wall, but there will be
,ther offers until finally will come
ne one and only declaration the al
les will listen to-; 3saFe give up; state
YOUR terms
London, Sept. 16.-While official
comment upon the reported Austro-
hungarian peace offer is withheld
until tl.e full text OF the Invitation"
1as been received and studied by the
government, it is a safe guess, based
.pon the present temperature OF the
british and allied peoples and upon
he urouestionable ascendancy of al
lied military power, that the offer
ill be fatty rejected.
Upon one point all officials AMI
veli-informed observers whort it had
1cen possible up to early last night to
sound privately are unanimous: That
he Vienna proposal IS made in Ger
nany." Austria Hungary merely act
.ry as Ber!in's cat's paw. The Ger
man government, it is agreed fully
realizes that any offers emanatlng
frcm itself would fall upon deaf ear&
and has resolved to try its partner
,s peddlcr of the olive branch.
Washington. Sept. i6.-The Austro-
Hungarian proposal for peace par
ley with all belligerents had nor
reached the State Department last
nlght. Secretary Lansing said ycster-
day the move was not unexpected, as
The department has beer aware TOR
some time of Austr.a's intentions IN
tris direction.
But when peace proposals come
either from Austria or GcfT1any-
they will find one answer IN fne
United States. and il will be:
Nothing DOING"
This is official Washington's view