Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-04-27
AUSTRIA CATS
PAW OF GERMANY
IN WORLD WAR
Yale Professor Reviews Events
OF 1914 In Bowdoin
Institute Address
mcnt of Austria in Early Days Ct
War. II" A.;>c",s-E'rcnch and
British Would Gladly Have ilas!c
Peace With He: in 191G-TciiS of
Present Day Conditions in Austria

brunswick, Nc. April 9G-The war
against Serbia was desired by the
Austrian government as means Of
annihi!attng anti Hapsburg move
mcnts outside of the empire and thus
of curbing elements of disunion with
in. Prof. Charles Seymour Of Yale
University, said in 4 lecture before
the Institute OF Modern History at
Bowdoin College tonight. But the
war soon assumed such proportions
that it threatened the very existence
Of the empire, he added.
in the early days Of tie war there
was no definite plan for the dismcm-
hcrment of Austria In case o. an On
tcnte victory. When the Austrian
peace offers Of 1916 We're made
French ana British statesmen would
gladly have made a separate peace
with Austria on the basis Of the in
tcgrlty of. the Hapsburg territories,
but their hands were tied by prom
iscs made 10 obtain adhesion Of
Italy and Rumana. With the fail
ure Of the secret peace negotiations.
it became obvious that Austria was
simply the cats paw of Germany.
The entente powers then adopted
the policy Of complete dismember-
mcnt.
1t followed that when the peace
conference met at Paris there was
no question as to whether the integ-
rity of the Hapsburg empire should
be maintained. The Harrisburg en-
pire had already disintcerated, and
separate provisional governments
had been established, already repre-
scntng tho new successor states.
The conference acted as an executor
apportioning the estate OF the deca-
dent among the heirs.
The general responsibility laid
upon the peace conference for the
dismemberment OF Austria Hungary
is thus not justified by the facts. 1t
was left to the peace conference
merely to decide the fate of the new
lesser Austria and to decide differ
ences of opinion.
With the exceptions of the claims
of Italy, they We're handed over TO
special expert commissions. In the
majority of cases. the recommended
tons Of the commissions were ac-
copied the details of the new FROM
tier were thus made not by the coun-
ell. who were affected largely by
mali fjc1l factors tho aynnr+
commissions.
The national principle was applied
to large extent in the case of each
state, but with notable exceptions.
In each of the new states there j. a
dssadcnt minority which is one of
the great dangers. The Czechs are
troubled by large German minority
and the Aslovak and Magyar prob
includes notable Magyar and a
smaller Serb minority. The new
South Slav state is troubled by the
anti Centralist tendencies of the
Croats and by the religious differ
ences existing the Catholics and
orthodox.
Lesser Austria has been deprived
Of a large German population in the
4 Hloi. Illus llScIl cut Oil IlOIl lnc
sea with weakened national reSour-
cos. and unable to support. except by
trade, its population of six million
Of whom two million are included in
the capitol, which is stranded on the
frontier of the new state. The ma
tionalist riyalrieS of the new states
form an element Of danger. The
strength of national feeling excited
BY the war has not been weakened.
and whereas before they directed
their nationalistic hatred against the
now they direct it against
Zach other.
Examples are the Polish Czech
'ivalry and the Italian south Slav
dispute. Grave problems were Gre
ated by the economic disintegra ton
If the Danube region and serious
dangers are likely to result from
tariffs.
In conclusion Prof Seymour said
hat the problem of coordination is
rightly recognized as that of supreme
Importance. He discussed the role
If the League of Nations in tranquil
ling and stabilizing the Dannbian
area. the possibilities OF the develop
nent of the Little Entente, and of
Danubian League of the future.