The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1921-12-06
SECRET TREATY
.PROlONGEDWAR,
CzERN|N AvOWS
PIums Offered Rumanla and
Italy Prevented Peace In 1917.
Austrian Asserts.


PARIS, Dec. 6.-6soret agree
ments. negotiated by the British and
French foreign offices. in 1916, 20
bring Italy and Rumania into the
war actually prolonged the war nearly
two years. at the cost Of hundreds OF
thousands OF human lives.
Count Cxernin. former Austrian
foreign minister. made this revelation
to Georges Moresthe. special corro-
spopdent OF the international News
Service and lie Petit Journal. In
statement ut Vienna. one Of the few
public declarations he has made since
the war ended. These agreements. he
said. made It absolutely impossible "nr
the peace efforts made by oormer
Emperor Charles Of Austria. In 1911.
acting through President Wilson. Priv
mier Clemenceau. and the Princo OF
Bourbon to succeed.
Count Czernin said he did not want
TO discuss In any manner Charles him.
self.
This reservation having been
made" he continued. II have no hooi.
concluded in 1917 between the En-.
tcnts and Austria Ut was conceded
that this would have brought peace
with Germany because II was aboo-
lutely impossible.
Bribo TO Get Allies Charged.
France and England to obtain al.
lies, had promised to pay them at the
expense Of Austria. This was quite
natural. but these engagements made
by the governments Of London and
Paris, fatally tied the Double-MCn-
archy's interests TO those of Germany.
THE treaty Of London. concluded
I'm 1915 between France, England,
Russia and Italy, promised to Italy
the Trentino. German Tyrol, Trieste
and Dalmatia. Another treaty at
trihuted Bosnia and Herzegovina to
Serbia and later Rumania was induced
to enter the war on the side Of the
allies by offering her Transyivania
and Bakavina.
"The allies had thus sold one-third
OF our empire in advance, certainly
not because of special hatred OF Au-
stria- Hungary, but to Increase thor
military forces and their chances Of
victory. The misfortune was that Au-
| stria was to support by herself the
cost Of this policy. France and Eng
land, In 1917. could have easily made
peace with US. but. bound by secret
treaties they could only offer condi-
tons to Austria-Hungary which would
satisfy the aspirations of the Italians,
the Serbians and the Rumanians. But
these conditions were unacceptable for
US.
think Of such a paradoxical situa-
| ton! Our armies occupied Rumania,
.,.I Not aA tv,x,, k1xs
| the Italian frontier; yet we were asked
| to dismenber the monarchy for the
profit OF our enemies, who, At that
time, seemed indeed to b conquered.
From the very first conversations
Italy made known to Paris and Lon
don that she expected to receive the
territories promised her and that
nothing could modify her attitude.
France and England remained faithful
to their ally, which was quite nat.
ural. II was . question Of loyalty. II
they had done otherwise Italy would
have detached herself from the ALI.
ance, an event which would have pro-
duced a very disagreeable effect
throughout the world for the Entente.
Austria Couldn't Mako Peace.
But at that moment we could not
have consented to the dismemberment
Of Austria-Hungary. Our army and
our people, who considered themselves
victorious since they occupied vast
enemy territories, would have thought
| themselves betrayed by their govern.
ment; revolution would have broken
out, and the Emperor would have
| been overthrow.
| THE Austro- Hungary government,
| therefore, could not separate it's for
| tunes from those OF Germany. 1t was
| not for love Of the King Of Prussia
that we continued the war, but be.
cause the treaty Of London prevented
us from laying down arms II the
entente had been willing to content
itself with changes in frontiers In
place Of wanting to cut up our en-.
pire I would not have hesitated to
make peace, whether Germany liked
1t or not. I would have said to Ger
many: I am making peace and i
would have appealed to Germn public
opinion and to Europe. and Germany
herself would have ben forced to ac-
cede."