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Show mm HEAR BREAK Dual Monarchy Recently on Point of Peace With Entente. SUDDENLY VEERED Will Stand Shoulder to Shoulder With Germany. Ger-many. LONDON. April C Austria Hungary Hun-gary was recently 'almost on the point of beginning peace negotiations with the Entente," Count Czernin, the j Austro-Hungarian foreign minister, declaied yesterday in an address to tbe Vienna municipal council The I wind "suddenly veered." he added, the Entente dciding to await developments develop-ments in his country which caused it j to hope that the dual monarchy would I soon be "defenselesT- The foreign minister's worTis were: "Recently we were almost on the point of entering into negotiations I with the western powers when the ! wind suddenly veered around and as we know with certaintv. the Entente decided it had better wait as parliamentary parlia-mentary and political eents in 'our country justified the hope that the monarchy would soon be defenseless " "Since, I came to office," declared Count Cirnin. "I have striven only after one aim. namely, to secure an i honorable peace to the monarchy and to create a situation which will secure to Austria -Hungary her future free, development and moreover to do! everything possible to insure that this terrible war will be the last one for time out of mind I bae never spoken i differently." Counf t'zernin added, however, that he had no Intention of begging for peace. I Count Czernin declared that Pre-I Pre-I mler Clemenceau of France had asked Austria-Hungary on what basis she Would negotiate peace, according to a dispatch from the Hague to the Daily j I Mail. Austria replied that the only obstacle to peace with France was Alsace-Lorraine and Premier Clemen ceau said that it was impossible to negotiate ne-gotiate on that basis. Clemenceau Queries Austria. "Some time before uie western offensive of-fensive began," Count Czernin said. "Premier Clemenceau addressed lo me an inquiry whether the dual monarchy would consider peace and upon what basis it was prepared to negotiate. In j agreement with Berlin, I immediately replied that I was prepared to negotiate nego-tiate and that as far as France was concerned the only obstacle I could see in the way of peace was the French desire for Alsace-Lorraine. The reply from Pans was that it was impossible to negotiate on this basis. Thereupon there was no choice left. Colossal Struggle Begun. "The colossal struggle in the west has already begun. Austro Hungarian and German troops are fighting shoulder shoul-der to shoulder as they lought in Russia. Rus-sia. Serbia. Rumania and Italy. We are fighting together for the defense of Austria-Hungary and Germany. Come what may, we will not sacrifice Ger- many's Interest no more than she will leave us in tbe lurch. We are not fighting fight-ing for imperialistic or annexationist aims for oursehes or for Germany." The Austro-Hungarian foreign minister min-ister according to a dispatch to the Daily Chronicle, declared also that he had an earnest desire for peace and that his country wished to avoid any further military offensive. After referring re-ferring to his reply to Premier Clemenceau Clem-enceau regarding Alsace Lorraine, he said thai Austria would insist on the status quo, adding: "The aspirations of France and Italy are Utopias which would be terribly ter-ribly aenged. Will Not Beg For Peace. "I do not intend to go begging for peace or obtain it by entreaties for treaties or lamentation but to enforce it by our moral right and physical strength," Count Czernin said. "Any other tactics only will contribute to the prolongation of the war." In regard to Bulgaria's claims against Serbia, the foreign minister said Bulgaria Must Be Rewarded. "Bulgaria must receive from Serbia certain districts inhabited by Bulgar- ( Continued on page 12.,' , BHjBBHjjHHjHBBBj AUSTRIA NEAR A BREAK (Continued from Page 1) lans. We. however, have no desire to ' destroy Serbia. We will enable Serbia I to develop and would welcome closer j economic relations with her." I Count Czernin declared he did not I believe that President Wilson in his recent address reaMy desired to cause 8 separation between Vienna and Berlin Ber-lin because the president knew that such a thing was impossible. The count added that President Wilson I probably saw that Austria-Hungary , was more favorable toward peace than Germany. Count Czernin's Statement Disbelieved At the state department it was made clear today that olTlcIals of this government gov-ernment do not believe the present great engagement In Europe will result re-sult in any weakening either at the capitals or among the people of the nations at war aguinst Germany. Count Czernin's statement that Premier Clemeaceau had indicated a willingness willing-ness to discuss peace was not given credence. It was believed that a wilful misinterpretation bd been given to some statement of tho French premier for the purpose of securing a favorable i reaction in France and her co-belligerents. Count Czernin's declaration th An-tria -Hungary almost was on the point of beginning peace negotiations ! with the Entento was branded by officials of-ficials as false. It was said that no suggestions of such a decision had reached Washington and that if tney had bon made ihi.s government would have been informed. Officials characterized the foreign minister's speech as a "feeler" which j probably would be followed by some , declaration or announcement in Ger-I Ger-I many. Czernin Breeding Suspicion. J The Entente embassies ascribed to I Czernin a purpose tob reed suspicion ' I and discord among the Entente allies i , by statements, which, if they have any! foundation at all. it Is believed rest I ;ontirel upon the doings of German agents and neutral pacifists in Swit-I izerland, who do not hesitate to claim I large powers which they do not actualH ly possess. j. j There has been no change, it was! I declared, in the attitude of the allies! I opposing the Central empire? and that m he principles advanced by 1 ' : n t w Wilson, notably those in which he de- chared for a general ;md not am peoj i peace, hae been n in til R there should be no doubt regard rhe u status of any other single cause in the; general issue. As for France, it was re-asserteaj I that she has no intention of tolerat I I ing any peace assertion apart fromJ I her co-belligerents. rn |