AUSTRIA AND GERMANY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17319, 20 May 1918, Page 5

AUSTRIA AND GERMANY

A RIFT IN THE LUTE. Router's Telegrams. AMSTERDAM, May 17. Von Hertling, Chancellor, and von Kuhlmann, Foreign Minister, have returned to Berlin from German Headquarters. They refused to receive the Reichstag leaders until after Whitsuntide, despite the leaders' demand for an immediate private interview to discuss the recent agreement between Austria and Germany. Liberal and Socialist newspapers warn the Government not to bind Germany to Austria before the Reichstag is consulted. AUSTRO-HUNGARIAN TREATY. EMPEROR CHARLES INCIDENT CLOSED. Australian and N.Z. Cablo Association. AMSTERDAM, May 17. Dr Wekerle, the Premier, in a speech in the Hungarian Chamber, denied that the new Austro-German Treaty affected the independence of the Austro-Hungarian army, though certain military agreements had been reached. Similarly, though an economic rapprochement had been arranged, it did not prejudice Hungarian economic independence. The agreement required the Chamber's approval. He declared that The Emperor Charles's peace letter liad been satisfactorily explained to Germany, and the incident was regarded as closed. German newspapers assert that Germany will shortly arrange conventions with Bulgaria and" Turkey similar to those with Austria. KARL'S VISIT TO BERLIN. COMMENTS IN GERMANY. BERNE, May 18. (Received May 19, at 5.5 p.m.) Reports indicate that tie meeting between the Kaiser and the Emperor Karl proved unsatisfactory. The conference was much shorter than was planned, and the return of the Emperor Karl to Austria caused most diverse comments in Germany.