AUSTRO-GERMAN TREATY.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LII, Issue 168, 13 July 1918, Page 7

AUSTRO-GERMAN TREATY.

"The new alliance between -AustriaHungary and Germany will make for better mutual relations," said the Premier of Hungary, Dr. Wekerle, in an address to the Lower House of Parliament. "Ifc can in nowise 'be ta : l;en as j a hindrance to relations which might be established eventually with other j peoples in the economic domain." J 'Count Michael Karolyi, presideift of • the Hungarian Independence Party, ; said he wanted to know whether the I terms of the new alliance would' be | submitted to the House for consideration. The Premier referred the Count to the official' announcement of May 12, relating to the meeting of Emperor William and Emperor Ohaa-les. The Premier at this point was interrupted with the observation that the announcement conveyed meagre information. He replied : "The official communique could not contain more than what happened. The discussion took place on questions which led to a prolongation of the existing alliance and for strengthening it for a long time to come." Here the Premier was interrupted with strong applause from the Tight and the centre. He continued : "The Emperors have agreed to request their Government to open negotiations, but beyond this 110 formal tieaty of any sort has 'been made. The negotiations soon will begin,, and. I think they will have; the general appr°V e 1 , of Hungarians, who wifll |fre satisfied that our interests are so well maintained by such a proved alliance. Naturally. certain military agreements also will be concluded. Agreements can, be made during war which relate to common action, but which have no connection with army organi- | sation. We shall in no respect- give up our nght of decision. No one doubts I closer economic ties are as desirable ! as .possible. I

X repeat, we- shall not give up ina single respect ouv ri<rht of decision. The validity of the Economic agreement "will depend on the approval of the House." There is a remarkable disnaritv between Jhe advices frcfm Berlin" " and those irom Vienna regarding the scope ot the projected extension of the Aus-trian-German alliance. Whereas the ■ ei , n version of the compact, according to the Cologne Gazette, denies thai the alliance is to be embodied in the Constitutions of the allied empires direct advices from Vienna on th« same day affirm the contrary positively," declaring such embodiment to be a part of the programme. f-,3? 1 T Pt>^? e , of th ' s Kes i» the | lact that, should the proposals contemi plate constitutional changes, tffey I n°,- - ave to '^ e submitted' to the of "both empires, .whose assent would be necessary. Vienna there is no attempt to conceal the conviction that there lies numerous stumbling blocks in thb pati ot the proposals, inasmuch as both iv Austria-Hungary and 'Germany there aio 'political parties audi .business in teres is with sufficient power to exert strong opposition to a realisation of the idea of , a unified Central Europe. i£__is< expected the Czechs and south Slavs- would oppose it on national grounds, and eerre'l~onl^;^ r l al Srm^s for 'economic um-on i* 1 are P at f nt ' as a tariff VVnnJ! Wl -° k ; en of 115 weU-imformed IoZ T ° ircles «» well wMin. the scope 01 the new agreement, although it is asserted that no tarfff war against other countries is intended.