Evening journal., 1918-07-17
bUR|Ah C0hBATS
Terms Of WILSON
Agrees in Part With Presi-
dent, But Calls Conditions
InSurmountable
ABOUT READY
TO DISCUSS PEACE


periodical reports TO the Austrian and
Hungarian Premiers, Baron Burian, the
Austr0-Hungarian Foreign Minister pays
high tribute to the peace views which
have been enunciated by President
Wilson. agrees with his general prin-
ciples. and declares that Austria Is ready
to discuss peace. but he fears that the
"obstinacy' Of the Allies regarding their
territorial demands concerning Alsace-
Lorraine, Triest, the Trentino and the
lost German colonies appear to be in
surmountable. He said:
''lt is not easy tn Craw a picture OF
the present world situation In view OF
the swiftly moving nature Of events.
Everything is in full swing and repe-
tifion Of what has so often been said
regarding the causes and responsible
ties for the past can no longer influence
our Judgment, because on that subject
everybody already has formed his own
view.
'sThe consequences OF the war already
have grown infinitely and have gone Tar
beyond the original causes OF the war
The present phase Of events, and de,
yelopments, too. throw a glaring light
on the conflicting interests OF the diff
ferent belligerent groups which clashed
at the beginning Of this murdcrous
struggle, but they perhaps are not
without slight signs OF an internal
change taking place in tho relations oil
the groups.
In the midst Of the terrible struggle, !
and in every phase Of this war Of sue /
cessful defence, the Central Powers |
have had no other aim In view but TO
secure the enemy's will TO peace.
IF we sum up all that has been said
on the enemy's side in regard to thelC
var aims we recognize three groups OF
aspirations which are being set forth
10 Justify the continuation OF blcOdshed
so that the ideals Of mankind may be
realized.
'sThe freedom Of all nations, which
are TO form a league Of nations and
which in future shall settle their diff
ferences by arbitration and not by arms,
Is to reign.
"The domination OF one nation by
another nation is to be excluded.
VARIOUS territorial changes are to be
carried out at the expense of the Cen
trail Powers.
'eThese annexationist aims, though
variousiy shaped. are generally known.
'The intention, however also exists.
especially In regard TO Austria-Hungary, |
TO carry out her internal dlsintegratioh |
for the purpose OF the formation OF
new States. Finally our opponents de-
mand our atonement because we dared
to defend ourselves. and successfully,
against their attacks. Our ability to
defend ourselves is termed militarism
and must therefore be destroyed.
Territorial aims are In fact the only
things now separating the different bel
ligerent groups.
For the great interests OF humanity
snd for the Justice. freedom, honor and |
peace Of the world as set forth In the |
laws OF modern political conception
regarding which we need not accept
any advice, we also are ready to fight.
There Is hardly any difference be-
tween the general principles enunclated
by the statesmen OF both belligerents.
President Wilson's four new points Of !
Jily shall not. apart from certain J
exaggerations, arouse our opposition.
ron the contrary, we are able to ap- d
prove them heartily TO a great extent. a
Nobody would refuse homage TO this Il
genius and nobody would refuse his Co s.
operation. This, however. Is not the
main point, but It Is what can also be
understood In the interests OF mankind. ?
Both groups should certainly honestly n
hAttlAiUb 10 NltNI AlAl0 ul anu nNAAlb ~
by mutual agreement. but not In the a
same manner as, for instance, our peaoc U
treaties In the east were judged Y
The fact is that all our opponents G
were invited 10 join In those peace I
negotiations and they could have CON
tributed their share In bringing them to 9
a different Issue. But now, when II Is !
too late, their criticism stands on weak '
grounds for there is no legal right ]
which would have entitled them TO con-
denim the peace conditions which were
acceptable to the contracting parties or
which could not be avoided.
From the confident utterances Of our
opponents It appears they have no fear
OF being defeated. II they nevertheless
represent the peace treaties as a warn
ing OF our treatment Of a defeated
enemy we do not consider the reproach
justified. !
None Of the belligerent States need
ever come into the position OF Russia |,
and Rumanis. as we are ever ready to !
enter into peace negotiations with all
our opponents.
If our enemies continuously demand /
atonement for wrong done and restitu- .
tion, then this is a claim which we
could urge with more Justification Y
against them, because we have been =
attacked, and the wrong done to us n
must be redressed. Q
The enemy's obstinacy regarding his q
territorial demands regarding Alsace- r
Lorraine, Trieste, the Trentno and the o
German colonies appears to be insur-
mountable. There lies the limit OF our Is
readiness for peace. We are prepared o
to discuss everything except our own q
territory. c
The enemy not only wants to cut u
from Austria-Hungary what he would o
Ike Tor himself. but the inner structure. q
tnat OF the monarchy itself, too, is to -
be attacked and the monarchy dis
solved, If possible, into component
parts.
Now that 1t is recognized that or
dinary war methods have not suflced
10 defeat us interest In internal affairs
suddenly has become supreme. The
Entente, however. discovered its SYM
pathy in our internal affairs so late that
many an enemy statesmen who now
TTates about the monarchy's national
questions as a war aim had probably
no idea Of their existence at the begin |
ming OF the war.
This fact can be recognized from that /
smateurish and superficial manner in /
which our opponents discuss an attempt /
TO solve these complicated problems.
This method, however appears to them
to be useful. They therefore organized