AUSTRIA MAY FIGHT IN THE WEST

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 66, 11 December 1917, Page 5

AUSTRIA MAY FIGHT IN THE WEST

SPEECH BY COUNT CZERNIN

THE WAR PARTNERSHIP WITH GERMANY Amsterdam, December 9. Count Czernin, tlio Austrian Foreign Minister, in a speech to the Hungarian Delegation, emphasised tho existence of complote agreement between Austria and Germany upon their war aims. Thoro waa no obXf,ao*o to ponco but Alsace-Lorraino. Austria-Hungary was fighting in Germany's defence, as Germany was fighting in tliat of the Austro-Hungarians. He would not differentiate betwoen Strassburg (in Alsace) and Trieste. "It is not impossible," he added, "that another constollation will entor the general European war situation, and that great events will follow on other fronts. Then I should applaud if wo _ fought on other fronts also, together with our allios." Referring to Italy, Count Czernin said: "Her last fiopo is tho status quo anto bcllum."—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn. BRITISH PRESS COMMENT. London, December 9. The newspapers interpret Count Czernin's hints as meaning that Austrians may take part in tho operations on the Western front. —Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn. austro-hungariapT" AUSGLEICH" FIERY SPEECH IN AUSTRIAN PARLIAMENT. Berne, December 9. The Austrian Parliament has passed the Ausgjeich Bill by 188 votes to 165'. Herr Htransky, tho Czech leader, protested that dualism and barbarism were enabling the Austrians, Germans, and Magyars to overrule tho other races in tho Dual Monarchy. The Czechs wanted no dealings with Hungary—only reckonings.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. [Tho "Ausgleioh" or "compromise" is a renewable arrangement regulating tho relations between Austria and Hungary. It provides the complete independence or the two States, each of which has its own Constitution, except in respect io foreign affairs, military and naval affairs, finance_ relating to common affairs, and certain other imperial questions.]

GERMAN AND CZECH

The following typical scene in the Austrian Reichsrath on Septomber 27 (as described _by the "Pester Lloyd") throws a lurid light on tho political conditions in the heart of the Dual Monarchy Wolf (leader of tho German Nationalists): This Parliament is not worth a farthing. It was a shamo, an absurdity, an act of frivolity in those awful and anxious times to have added to all other cares and anxieties about the oxistance of the Stato by calling this Parliament together without being suro of the agoncies that could lead to a healthy end. What ducks and drakes havo not the Czechs already played with their Parliament I To allow Herr Burival (ono of the amnestied Czech leaders) to take his seat would be to open tho doors wide to all traitors. I warned against the amnesty. (Violent protests on the Czech benches.) ' Prokeoz (Czech): This is a pieco of effrontery 1 Wolf (excitedly striking his desk): Silcnce when I speak I Tho Czechs reply with loud laughter nnd interjections, "Sugar Wolf wants to call in tho polico!" (An allusion to the fact that Wolf's paper, tho "Ostdeutscho Rundschau," is financed by tho Siigar Syndicate.) < Tho President: I bog of Herr Wolf to allow me to watch over tho order of the Assembly. Teufel (German Nationalist, addressing the President): You aro taking too many liberties. You ought to call these fellows to order. Freedom of speech exists here for us as well as for the Czech traitors and intriguers. (Storms of interjections and great noise.) Tho President: I call Deputy Teufel to order. • Lisy (Czech, addressing Teufel): You cucumber dealer! Teufel: You are an unabashed rat. You are a mutineer 1 Prokecz (addressing Teufel): You unabashed follow I You hinterland hero 1 Tho noise continues. ' The Germans and the Czechs exchange further abusive words. The President rings tho bell, but to no avail. At last the two parties become exhausted with their effort. Wolf profits by the occasion to resumo his speech. He says that owing to the activity of the amnestied Czech traitors thousands of German sons We had to bleed on tho battlefields. These gentlemen have so poisoned the soul of the Czech people tnat they havo mutinied at the front, and have caused gaps in it, so that thousands upon thousands of sons of Germans—nay, of Czechs also—had to dio in order to fill the gaps to some extent. Again the storm of interjection is resumed, and again the President asks the Assembly to be quiet. Wolf: Is the Czech everything in the world? Is Czech impudence and arrogance to go so far as to upset our Parliamentary institutions! (Lively interjections and continuous din.) .Prokecz: I 'have four sons at tho front. Teufel (banging the desk with his fistl: Shut tip I . Wolf: For God's sake, take away this Czech fool 1 Ho proceeds to speak again about Burival, and again causes an outbust. Exner (Czech): He has Burival onhis brain. (Interjections from the German sido, "You will toon have him also on your brains.") Wolf: If the Government has not the courage to settlo the national autonomy of the Czechs and the Germans in Bohemia in an extra-Parliam'jptnry way, all efforts will be in vain. May then tho Government try to come to terms with tho Czechs, and see how tho Hapsburg dynasty is going to exist by the grace of tho Czechs. But we have no wish to hear our bones crack between tho teeth of the Czech lion. Prunaz (Czoch): The Bohemian lion does not eat sugar. Teufel: This is a personal insult, for which you ought to havo your ears boxed. Lisy (to Teufel): Come along here. Try to box my ears, you rascal. The President: I call to order Deputies Teufol, Prokecz, and Prunaz. I draw Deputy Wolf's attention to the fact that ho lias exceeded his speaking time. Wolf: More than half of my time has been wasted through interruptions. The President: I ask Deputy Wolf not to enter into polemics and to finish ' his speech, as otherwise I shall have to stop him. Wolf: We want an honourable peace. ■ Witt (Czech): Perhaps a victorious peace. Wolf: Yes, a victorious peace—an honourable peacefor the glory of Germany and Austria-Hungary. I warn the Government against acccding to tho : aspirations of the Czechs.. The President: Your time, with the i addition of 50 per cent, for interrup- 1 tions, has expired. 1 Wolf: The interruptions lasted ; longer. _ ] Tho President: I call upon Deputy | Wolf to terminate his speech. i Wolf (banging tho table): All right, < I have finished. What, more do you j want? ] ' t