Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1918-10-30
AUSTRIA GETS
COLD COMFORT
"PeoRle Must Rule" Is Kernel of
Answer Made to Country's
Peace Note.
FREEDOM BEFORE ALL THINGS
Austro-HungarIan Government Must
Satisfy National Aspirations of Its
Own People Before Peace
Conditions May Be
Considered.

Washington, Oct. 22.-President VIII
son has rejected the Austrian offer TO
conclude an armistice and negotiate
peace. He declared that mere auton-
ony for Austrian natIOnalities was
not sufficient, but that they must have
liberty.
The text of the note handed to the
Swedish minister follows:
Sir-l have the honor to acknowl-
edge the receipt of your note of the
seventh instant in which you transmit
a communication of the imperial and
royal government of Austria Hungary
to the president | am instructed by
the president to request you to be good
enough through your government to
convey to the imperial and royal gov
eminent the following reply;
THE president deems it his duty to
say to the Austro-Hungarian govern
ment that he cannot entertain the pres
ent suggestions of that government be-
cause Of certain events of utmost inn
portance which, occurring since the de-
livery Of his address of the eighth of
January last, have necessarily altered
the attitude and responsibility Of the
government of the United States.
Among the fourteen terms of peace
which the president formulated at that
time occurred the following:
tx. The peoples of Austria-Hun-
gary whose place among the nations
we wish to see safeguarded and as
ehnt,F1 b,s-
opportunity OF autonomous develop
ment'
Since that sentence was written
and uttered TO the congress of the
United States the government of the
United States has recognized that a
state of belligerency exists between
the CzechO-Slovaks and the German
and AustrO- Hungarian empires and
that the Czecho-Sloval national coun-
ell is de facto belligerent govern
ment clothed with proper authority to
direct the military and political af-
fairs of the CzechO-Slovaks. 1t has
also recognized in the fullest manner
the justice of the nationalistic aspira
lions of the Jugo-Slavs for freedom.
''The president is, therefore, no long
er at liberty to accept the mere 'autOn-
Omy' of these peoples as a basis of
peace, but is obliged to insist that
they, and not he, shall be the judges
Of what action on the part of the Aus
tro-Hungarian government will salts
fy their aspirations and their concep-
ton of their rights and destiny as
members Of the family of nations.
Accept. sir. the renewed assurances
Of my highest consideration.
"ROBERT LANSING"
In announcing his reply, Secretary
Lansing also made public the official
text of the Austro-Hungarian note. 1t
follows:
Legation of Sweden, Washington,
d. C., Oct. 7, 191S.-(Translation.)--
Excellency: BY order of my govern
ment | have the honor confidentially To
transmit herewith TO you the following
communication of the imperial and
royal government of Austria-Hungary
to the president of the United States
of America:
The Austro-Hungarian monarchy.
which has waged war always and sole
ly rs n defensive war. and repeatedly
given documentary evidence of lis
readiness TO stop the shedding of bloc
and 90 arrive at a just and honorable
peace hereby addresses itself to his
lordship. the president of the United
States of America, and offers to con
cIude with him and his allies an armis-
tee on every front on land, at sea, and
in the air and to enter Immediately
upon negotiations for peace for
which the fourteen points in IN" mes
sage of President Wilson 10 congress
Of January s. 1918. and the four
points contained in President Wilson's
address of February Il, 1918, should !
serve as a foundation in which the
viewpoints declared by President VIII
son in his address of September -.
1918. will also be taken into account
BE pleased TO accept. etc,
wv. A. F. EKEVGREN.
His excellence Mr.. Robert Lans-
ing. secretary of state of the United |
States, Washington"