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Show AUSTRIA IS ALSO I Allies of Germany, Growing H Weary of the Conflict, H Make Overtures. H WASHINGTON, April 12. Austrian H and Bulgarian representatives are en- H deavoring to approach entente diplo- J mats in Switzerland on the subject of' H peace. H Press dispatches today reporting H Bulgarian efforts in this line develop- iil ed that it is known here not only that jill Bulgaria has taken soundings, but also IH that there has been similar action in IH the name of Austria-Hungary. Wheth- IH er the two countries are working sep- H arately or together Is not known, nor H has any reference been made to the H attitude of Germany or Turkey. H Officials here see in the Austrian H and Bulgarian action merely an ex- H pression of weariness with the war H and anxiety to bring it to an end with- H out, however, involving any indication H of desperation on their part1 which VM would make them propose terms ac- H ceptable to the entente. As a result H there is every evidence that tho in- H formal -efforts now being made mark H merely a step in the long road that VM will eventually lead to peace and do H not offer hope of real negotiations in H the near future. H Must State Terms. H This opinion is strengthened by the JH act that the entente diplomats have H not accepted the suggestions made to H them for private conversations, but H have indicated, on the other hand, that H they will not go into any such discus- M slon blindfolded. They have left the H Impression that they stand on the M general principles enunciated by their jl government that the entente nations M will not enter a peaco conference until ll their enemies have made public their IH terms. I Independent soundings by Austria IH and Bulgaria, even if entirely tenta- H tive, have attracted interest here, how- M ever, as showing the dissatisfaction of IH those two governments with the IH course of tho war and their apparent M anxiety to negotiate directly and not H through the medium of Germany. As IH both these countries are reported to be H more eager for peaco than their more H powerful ally, a degree of hope Is felt H that their exigencies may force Ger- jH nlany to a more moderate stand and jH bring the day of ultimate peace near- IH Peace Desire Growing. jB Tho recent public statement of IH Count Czernin, Austrian minister for IH foreign affairs, that the central pow- H ors still stood ready for a conference, IH and the widespread comment upon It IH in the press, were interpreted hero to fM indicate a growing desire for peace in IH tho central empires. Similar state- H ments by Bulgarian leaders strength- Um ened the viewpoint. IH Austria is known to have been af- tm footed by war weariness and by the IH Russian revolution. It Is generally H felt there that the central empires H havo reached the maximum of their Vm mllitarv strength and It is feared the jm upheaval across the bordor may find a jm decided echo among Austria's conglom- H erate and disaffected peoples. Food H conditions, though satisfactory m m agrnrian Hungary, aro serious in in- H dustrial Austria and enthusiasm H among the peoplo has fallen off alarm- m ingly- H |