The Washington herald., 1918-10-20
WILSON PEACE
DEMANDS NOW
MORE SEVERE
President Modihes Require
ments in Dismissing
Plea of Austria.
EMPIRE FACES DOOM
American Reply Ignores
Bid for Cessation Of
Fighting.

Fighting.
President Wilson yesterday dismiss
ed Austris's plea for peace with
brief note which sounds alike the
death knell of autonomous develop
ment of the peoples of the dual
and the clarion call Of
liberty and independence for them.
In short, the President tells Austria
that she waited too long in the hope
of sharing victory with Germany
He says conditions have changed, and
that acceptance Of his fourteen terms
of peace, laid down before Congress
last January. no longer is a basis Of
peace negotiations with Austria.
1t is now up TO the dual monarchy.
he points out. to deal direct with its
own people first, before approaching
the United States and the allies on
the subject of peace. He makes plain
that these peoples must have liberty
and independence-not autonomy-be-
fore we can talk business with Au:
tria.
Removes Tenth Provision.
The President. in his message, re-
linquishes the tenth of his fourteen
terms. 1t is the one which read:
The peoples OF Austria Hungary,
whose place among the nations we
wish to see safeguarded and assured.
should be accorded the freest oppor-
tunity of autonomous development. ."
No longer will It figure In the Presi-
dents peace progre-s, for AUSTRIA
Hungary has made IL impossible.
, Since its utterance, the President
explains, we have recognized the
Czecho- -SIovaks as a de facto bel
Iigerent government, and we have
also recognized the justice OF the
aspirations Of the JuEo-
SIavs. Mention of the Poles is omit
ted in the Presidents message be-
cause, in his fourteen terms, he spe-
cificauy provides for a free and in
dependent Poland.
His words yesterday reaffiTmed the
decision to which the United States
and the allies are committed-the dis
memberment of the Austro-hun-
garian government. The word "au-
tonomv." once the sesame to
peace conference. has become non
entity. Austria has played the part
of a fatalist and waited too long.
She must now face the consequences
Of her delay, and they spell the doom
of the empire and the end OF the
HapsburCs. They mean that there
will he a free Poland. an independent
Czecho-SIovak state. an independent
Jugo- -Slavia. and the loss OF ltalia
irridenta. together with the possibil-
ity of an independent Hungary
DipIomats Expect Uprising.
There is little question in the
minds of officials and diplomats
here that the Presidents message
will he like gunpowder to the revo-
lutionary fires that are now smold-
ering within the dual monarchy
His forcefuI language. it was said
will hearten each of the different
nationalities. hopeful Of freedom
and gaIvanize into action their dis
content.
Events in Austria have reached
such a crisis that only straw Il
needed to break the camcls back
it was pointed out and the Presi'
dents message is more than g
straw.
Coming on the heels Of thu
Czecho- SIovak declaration of indie
eleventh hour effort to stay the
disaster which threatens to engul'
his throne. it serves notice in omi'
nous tones that the time for ne
gotiated peace with Austria is past
lust as it is with Germany. Some
thing more is wanted.
Discussion Practically Ended.
The note. which was transmitted
to Austria through the Swedish Le'
CATION. practically ends all future
discussion by the Austro Hungarian
government on the subject of peace.
Although Austria. like Germany, re-
quests a general armistice in its plea
for peace. the President makes nc
mention of that word in his reply
He conveys the intimation, however
that the internal affairs of the EN-
pire are sufficiently important at tho
present time to engage all of the at
tention of its statesmen.
The Austrian note. which arrived
at the swedish Legation on October
z, and was immediately turned ovel
to Secretary of State Lansing, reads
as follows:
The Austrian Note
The text of the Swedish Minister!
communication embodying the Aus
tro- Hungarian note follows:
From the Minister of Sweden to
the Secretary of State:
(Translation)
Legation of Sweden.
Washington, D. c,
October =, 1915.
Exceliency:
BY order of my government l
have the honor confidentially to