WAR-WEARY AUSTRIA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LV, Issue 16762, 31 January 1918, Page 5

WAR-WEARY AUSTRIA.

WORKERS DETERMINED. ATTITUDE OF GOVERNMENT. LONDON, Jan. 22. Despatches from Amsterdam, referring to the Austrian strikes, state that the supreme factor is undoubtedly a war-weari-ness almost equal to that of the Russians. Several hints were given to Berlin that the people were unwilling to support the German military party, knowing that bub for them peace could be arranged with Russia within a day. The Daily Chronicle's correspondent at Amsterdam supports this report of war-weariness, the foremost cause of which is the country's terrible losses, not only in men, but in every department of national life. Business and industry have been stagnated and ruined. Tha workers, in an exemplary manner, avoid violence, but are grimly determined. Demonstrations In Vienna.

The Amsterdam correspondent of the Times says that in spite of severe censorship and official falsification of reports, it is evident that the Austrian strikes aro developing. Throughout the nation the most intense feeling is shown. Five immense meetings of workers were held in Vienna on Sunday. The resolution, which evoked tremendous cheering, declared that the workers protested that they had been robbed of all influence in peace negotiations by the constant postponement of Parliamentary sittings and the suppression of press criticism of the Austro-German policy. The people demanded that the Government snould negotiate at Brest) Litovsk on a conciliatory basis to ensure the permanent friendship of Russia. They declared that they were opposed to annexations, and would leave Poland, Lithuania, and Courland free to decide their future with universal suffrage. Austrian workers insist with passionate positiveness on universal peace. They regard Mr. Lloyd George's and Mr. Wilson's programmes as an indication that even the enemy Governments are yielding to the proletariat and restricting imperialist aims. The declaration by Count Czernin, Foreign Minister, that he would not wreck peace by a policy of conquest was intended to quieten the feelings of the munitionworkers, whose exasperation had been increased by a general reduction of food rations. The press warns the authorities of growing revolutionary infection from Russia. It points out that the whole food service is defective through bureaucratic bungling, illicit trading, and the selfishness of the propertied classes, especially the agrarians. The people feel that they bear the whole weight of the sacrifices involved by the prolongation of a war due merely to the ambitions of the Central Powers.

The correspondent suggests that the absence of repressive measures in Austria and Hungary indicates that the Government wishes the popular movement in favour of peace to impress Germany.