Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-04-15
etter of Emperor
Charles Rises Up to
Convict Him of Lying

Paris, April Is. Emperor
Charles of Austria a year ago de-
Jared his personal belief that
France has a right to Alsace Lor-
.aine and that the complete SOW
,rignty of Belgium and Serbia
should be restored.
This declaration was made on
March 81, 1917, in letter from
the emperor to his brother-ln-ia"'
Prince Sixtus De Bourbon, who COM
municated it to President Poincare,
nv whom it was referred to the
French premier.
The letter. which was officially
made public here, follows:
"My Dear Sixtus: The end of the
third wear of this war, which has
brought so much mourning and grief
into the world, approaches. ~! the
peoples of my empire are more close
ly united than ever in the common
determinati to safeguard the in
tegrity of the monarchy at the cost
even of the -heayiest sacrifices.
Thanks to their union, with the
generous cooperation of all nation
alities, my empire and monarchy
have succeeded in resisting the
assaults for nearly three years. No
body can question the military ad-
vantages secured by my troops, par
ticularly in the Balkans.
France on her side has shown
force, resistance and dashing cour-
age, which are magnificent. All I'm
reservedly admire >the admirable
bravery, which is irrational to her
arm and the spirit of sacrifice OF the
entire French people.
Sympathy for France
Therefore, it is special pleas
ure to me to note, that, although for
the moment adversaries, no real di-
vergence of views or aspirations sep
arates many of my empire from
France and that 1 am justified in
hoping that my keen sympathy for
France, Joined to that which pre-
walls in the whole monarchy will
forever avoid return of the state
of war, for which no responsibility
can fall upon me.
with this in mind and to show
in definite manner the reality Of
these feelings, l beg you to convey
privately and unofficially to Presi;
dent Poincare that 1 will support, by
every means and by exerting all my
personal influence with my allies,
Frances just claims regarding AL
sace-Loraine.
Belgium should be entirely re-
established in her sovereignty, re-
tanning entirely her African posses
sions with prejudice to the compen-
satjons she should receive fer the
Ia o1 II 10
should be restored in her sovereign
ty and as pledge of our good will
we are ready to assure her equitable
natural access to the Adriatic and al
so wide economic concessions in
Austria-Hung gary On her side we
will demand, as primordial and es-
sential conditions, that Serbia cease
in future all relation with and sup
press every association or group
whose political object aims at the
disintegration of the monarchy,
particularly the Serbian politiea! So
ciety, Narodni Ochrana; that Serbia
Loyalty and by every means in her
power prevent any kind of political
agitation, either in .Serbia>or beyond
her frontiers, in the foregoing direc-
ton and give assurances thereof I'M
der the guarantee Of the Entente
powers.
Peace Pact limited.
"'The events in Russia COMPEL me
to reserve my ideas with regard to
that country until legal definite.
government is established there
Having thus laid my ideas clear
ly before you> should ask you in
turn after committing with these two
powers, to lay before me the opin-
ion. first of France and England,
with a view to thus preparing the
ground for an understanding. on the.
basis of which official preliminary
negotiations could be taken up and
reach result satisfactory to all.
g Hoping that thus we will soon
be able together to put a limit to the
sufferings Of so, many millions of
men and families now plunged in
sadness and anxiety, beg to assure
Il .