Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-06-03
Austria Accepts
Share of Burden

suffice to release n nation from assumed
obligations. This entails the conclu-
sion that all the territories of the an
cient monarchy and their peoples could
be made responsible for the conse-
ouences of the war which was forced
upon them all by their former govern
ments.
Have Dreadful Inheritance
Thus is weighing upon us, as upon
all the other nationalties established
on the territory of the former Austro-
Hungarian monarchy. portion of the
dreadful Inheritance left MS by the fallen
empire. the inheritance of war, the IN
hcritance of exhaustion and the inherit e
apce of the more cumbersome economic
obligations.
but the new republic has freed her
self from all these impcrinlistic aspira p
tions which have become SO fatal to the
existence of the ancient monarchy. She
has rid herself once and forever of all
the rcactioDary traditions which had
turned the former monarchy into a
prison for it's people. She is. alas. the
unfortunate victim Of that horrible crime
of t9t4-a crime committed by the for
mer government. however, and not by
the people.
con the other hand. all the succeed e
ing states have in the light of interna =
tional law come into existence after
the cessation of hostilities only. The
German Austrian republic. in its pres =
ent shape. has never declared war
never carried on war and, in relation
with the western powers. never had
the position of warning power from
an international point of view.
Republic Never at War
"And there could be no doubt as to
the fact that our republic never was
at war with the new national states.
"On the contrary. in Vienna various
commissions appointed by the succeed .
| ing states have met to settle the estate
| left by the late empire. and to DIVIDE
! in mutual agreement among themselves
| all the rights and assets of this estate
Between them and us it is not Ques
tion of making peace. but of liquldatint
the former partnership and settling th'
future relations under the Intervention
and guarantee of the powers, for whicl
we pay.
Nevertheless these succeeding states
meeting face to face in Paris. are play
ing quite different role in regard t
their obligations assumed in the past
We expect to eliminate this cOntradic
ton at the Peace Conference. | reserv
to myself the opportunity of DRAWN
like conclusions from this contradictio
later on.
Assumes Portion Of Liabilities
eve are before you as one of tn
parts of the vanquished and fallen EN-
pire. We assume our portion of tn
liabilities growing ont of these our re
lations to the allied powers, and we ar
we'll aware of the fact that our fate
resting in your hands.
I'VE hope and believe that the con
science of the world shall not deny
our people nor curtail the inalienab
right of self determination, which II
associated powers have always pre-
claimed to be the very aim of the
war waged against the Hapsburg an
S the Hohenzollern monarchies, a rigl
which our people, cOnfding in the prir
ciples recognized by the allied power
, have adopted as fundamental bas
I of their new constitution.
5 1--WE trust that the worlds comm'
+ sense will not have in view nor W
1 permit our economic ruin. The destru
e ton of the economic unit of the MOI
archy. the separation of our mountain
ous country from all its national r
sources. has condemned us. these la
six months. to privations which are
= far exceeding the sufferings endured
war time.
. 1T was only due. to the generous r
T lief action organized by Mr.. Hoove
: on resolutions passed by the ALI
:, mowers, that we have been saved fro
q downright starvation, but in all the
times of distress our people have,
n A manner deserving of admiratio
e shown discipline, patient endurance a
y good judgment.
t Even Permitted Invasion
"Our new republic did not stain /
II revolution with blood, and having fai
"a in the decisions of this conference S
II ven has abstained from any military q
It ton against her neighbors, althou
= the latter have occupied two -tifths
st her territory. She has proved to
/ mainstay of peaceful and organic
b, social Development in central Europe.
ID 1--WE know that we had to rece
" peace from your hands-from the har
I'd of victors--but we are firmly resolN
es conscientioasly to weigh each and eve
Sc proposition laid before use and any q
we vice offered by you to us.
1--WE shall, above all, make it po
thoroughly to inform you of the CON
tons prevailing in our country and
Us enlighten you regarding the print
i, exigencies Of our existence.
ty IF you heretofore have had the {
A. portunity to hear, with few xc'
D tions only, the voice of our neighbC
be we now invoke your hearing, for y
at the arbiters of great world, will hi
IA to decide the fate Of our small wo
nd also, and it is only just and right t
n arbiters should hear both parties.
ed 1--WE pray for a decision which '
r insure for all our nationals politi
hc and economic existence
us
TN T/IENNECE MEEK.