South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-12-07
PACT OF SECRECY
PROLONGED FIGHT
Agreement Between + our
Countries Blamed for In
volving Nations.

PARIS. Secret agree
rnertz. negotiated by the British and
French foreign offices. in 1915. 90
bring italy and Roumania into the
war actually prolonged the war
nearly two years. az the cost Of hum
cre6s % thousands 81 lives
Count Czernini former Austrian
foreign minister. made this revela-
zion TO Georges Afo-ezthe. special
correspondent OF the International
News service and Le Petit Journal
in a gtatement AZ Vienna, one OF the
Few public declarations made since
the war ended. These agreements.
be said. made 20 absolutely impos-
Gihle for the peace efforts made by
former Emperor Charles ~ Austria
in 1917. acting through Pres't Wi
son. Premier Cieuerccau and the
Prince Of Bourbon 90 succeed.
Count Czernin said that he did
not want 20 discuss in any manner
Charles himself
This reservation having been
made" he continued 81 have no
hesitancy Or saying that peace was
rot concluded ir 1917 between the
entente and Austria Ot was con-
ccded that this would have brought
peace with Germany because IL
was absolutely Impossible.
France and England. 20 obtain
allies. had promised 90 pay them
at the expense OF Austria. This
was quite natural. but these engage
ments made by the governments OF
london and Paris. fatally tied the
double-mouarchy interests 90 those
OF Germany
some OF the "Plums."
THE treaty OF London. concluded
g. 1915 between France, England.
Russia and Italy. promised 90 Italy
the Trentino. German Tyroi Trieste
and DaImatia Another treaty at
tributed Bosnia and herzegovina 20
Serbia and later Rumania was in
duced 20 enter the war on the side
or the allies by Offering her Tran
syIvania and Bakoviua
THE allies had thus sold one
third OF our empire in advance. GER
tainly not because OF special hatred
OF AustrIa-Hungary, but 90 increase
their military forces and their
was that Austria was 10 support by
herself the cost OF this policy.
France and England. in 1917. could
have easily made peace with as but,
hound by secret treaties they could
only offer conditions 20 Austria
Hungary which would satisfy the
aspirations Of the Italians. the Serb
ians and the Rumanians. But these
conditions were unacceptable for us.
Think OF such a paradoNCal sit
uation, Our armies occupied Ru-
mania. Serbia and maintained in
vulnerably the Italian frontier, yet
we were asked 20 dismember the
monarchy for the profit Of our
enemies. who. az that time. seemed
indeed TO be conquered. From the
very first conversations Italy made
known to Paris and London that
she expected TO receive the terri
tories promised her and that moth
ing could modify her attitude
France and England remained faith
ful 70 their ally. which was quite
natural IL was a question OF loyal
~. III they had done otherwise Italy
would have detached herself from
the alliance an event which would
have produced a very disagreeable
effect throughout the world for the
entente
Austria CouIdn't Make Peace.
"But az that moment we could not
have consented 20 the dismember-
ment Of Austria-Hungary Our army
and our people. who considered
themselves victorious since they oc-
cupied vast enemy territories. would
have thought themselves betrayed by
their government. revolution would
have broken ont. and the emperor
would have been overthrown-
"The Austro-Hungarian govern
meut, therefore, could not separate
It's fortunes from those OF Germany
IL was not for. love OF the King OF
Prussia that We continued tho war
but because the treaty OF London
prevented us from laying down
arms II the entente had been will
ing 90 content itself with changes Ir
frontiers in place Of wanting TO cut
mp our empire. I would NOT have
hesitated 10 make peace. whether
Germany liked &c or not. I would
have said 20 Germany: I am makinl
peace and 7 would have appealed
To German public opinion and e
Europe. and Germany 1ersolf voult
have been forced 20 aCcede."