The Tomahawk., 1918-04-11
CzERNIN SPEECH
Is GERMAN MOVE
Opinion of U. S. and Allied DipIo.
mats is Premier's Words
Are New Peace Offensive.
] NOT TO Be CONSIDERED
German Drive in West Having Failed
: Object is to Bring Discomfort
z. Among People Of Allied
Countries.

Washington, April 5.-President Will
son will answer Count Czerninjs peace
talk with assurance that America
"will fight to finish"
This was clearly indicated by ad'
ministration authorities when they
announced that "all peace talk now
is fake.
"Feelers" Of the Austrian minister
of foreign affairs will be met by an
emphatic war message when the Presi-
dent speaks in, Baltimore Saturday
night. The President is preparing hls
address.
Washington, April SIN the speech
of Count Czernin, the Austro-Hungar'
ian foreign minister, American gov
ernment officials and the Allied en-
bassies see another TeutOnic peace
offering. Czernin declared that re-
Gently negotiations were near be-
tween the Austrian and Allied gov
ernments.
The move, evidently conceived III
Germany, they said, was made just
as it became certain that the Ger:
man drive in the west had failed o.
its purpose, and was intended to
bring discord among the Allied pow
ers and to cause discomfort among
their populations.
czernin Statements Qnfounded.
The foreign minister's statement
that Premier Clemenceau of France
had advanced suggestion OF peace
discussions, and his reference to Al
sace-Lorraine as q stumbling block,
It was declared here, were designed
to create the belief that the Allies
desire to recover Alsace-Lorraine for
France is the only thing that stands
In the way of peace.
Some believe that CZernin's speech
is a forerunner of some declaration
by the German government on the
subject.
czernin Answers Wilson's Speech.
Count Czernin, the Austro-Hungar-
ian foreign minister addressed dele.
CATION from the Vienna city council,
which waited on him in connection
with what the burgomaster termed
the "aggravated distress of the popu-
lation," which is closely connected
with the general political situation.
with the conclusion of peace with
Roumania the war In the east ended"
he said. Before, however, turning
to Individual peace treaties and dis
cussing them in detail, l would like
to revert to the declaration of the
President of the United States, in
which he replied to the speech de-
livered by me on January "a.
"In many parts of the world Presi.
dent Wilson's speech was interpreted
as an attempt to drive a wedge be-
tween Vienna and Berlin. l do not
believe that, because I have too high
an opinion Of the President Of the
United States and his outlook ao a
statesman, to believe him capable of
such q way of thinking. President
Wilson is no moro able to ascribe dis.
honorable action TO us than we to
him.
Agrees With German Chancellor.
II can only say" he continued,
"that I esteem it highly that the
German chancellor, in his excellent
speech OF February IS. took the words
out of my mouth declaring that the
four principles in President Wilson's
speech Of February II formed the
basis upon which general peace
could be discussed. / am in entire
agreeemnt with this.
1.-THE four points laid down by the
President are a suitable basis on
which to begin the discussion for a
general peace. Whether. however,
the President will succeed in his en-
deavors to rally. his Allies On this
basis or not is q question.
God is my witness tnat va have
tried every thing possible to avoid a
fresh offensive, but the Entente would
not have It thus" N%r
MkIl lNc nPnER lc MnnlE1En