AUSTRIA AND THE WAR.

Southland Times, Issue 17469, 25 March 1915, Page 4

AUSTRIA AND THE WAR.

The immense losses that Austria has suffered at the hands of both Russia and Sorvia, the loss of Galicia, the largest and most populous province, the acute privations and distress of the population, and the prospect of speedy ruin if Roumania and Italy should join the Allies have killed all enthusiasm for the war in the Dual Monarchy and all confidence in the ability of Germany to win. The downfall of Przemysl will be a severe blow to a country already disheartened, and it is interesting to recall, therefore, that in January most circumstantial accounts were given of a visit paid by Baron Burian, who had just assumed the position of Foreign Minister in Austria-Hungary, to the German Chancellor at, Berlin and to the Kaiser at the Army Headquarters in France. In newspapers just (o hand from Ixmdon proposals said to have been made by Baron Burian are fully stated, together with the replies of the German authorities. According to the Copenhagen correspondent of the Daily Mail, who claimed that his information was obtained from a “most trustworthy and well - informed source in Berlin,” the Foreign Minister represented to the Kaiser and the Chancellor that the situation in Austria was precarious, and that if the Russian advance on Budapest was not stopped the effect would very probably be the downfall of Austria, and more particularly the complete col-

lapse of Hungary, which must later entail ns Us logical sequence the downfall of Germany. Baron Burian, in effect, urged that defeat was Inevitable and that Austria was willing, and Germany should also be willing, to make sacrifices for peace. He suggested that Germany should agree to disarmament, to give up the Polish provinces and the French part of Alsace, and to restore the status quo in Belgium and Northern FranCe. Austria for her pan was prepared to lose Galicia to Russia, to cede Bukowina to Rnumania and parts of DosnlaIlorzcgovlna to Scrvla. These were the Baron's proposals. They represented the purchase of peace at a heavy price, but the Austrian’s contention was that the cost of continuing the war would be enormous and that In the end Germany and Austria, defeated, would bo compelled to make even greater sacrifices. The Kaiser, the Chancellor, the Foreign Minister and other leading statesmen are said to have admitted that Baron Burian's intentions were excellent, and were to some extent justified by circumstances. but their reply was that such a peace as Baron tiurian proposed would be more ruinous for Germany than a total defeat. The disarmament of Europe, they contended, would only mean that the armies were disarmed, but that the British Navy would be able for all time to rule the seas. As a consequence Great Britain would then be able to tyrannise the whole world, and Germany would have lost all chance of safeguarding her commercial, industrial, and economic interests. For those reasons the German statesmen declared the negotiations for peace hopeless, and Baron Burian agreed that there was nothing to do but reject all Idea of peace and take all the risks of war. He insisted, however, that the Russians must at all costs tie repulsed and that Germany must send largo reinforcements (o Hungary to prevent a catastrophe. The Germans conceded the point and promised to transfer troops up to the number of one million to Hungary by the Spring, and to send an additional million and a-half men to France as a last attempt to crush the Allies and to force peace. This is a highly interesting report. The thought that strikes one first is, Of course, that if such proposals were Made and discussed it would be madpess to reveal to the enemy any disposition to sue for peace on the part of Germany and Austria-Hungary and no one actually present at the conferences would bo likely to open his mouth. How then could newspaper correspondents obtain any information at all reliable with respect to the nature of Baron Burian's mission and the attitude of Germany? Still the best-guarded secrets sometimes leak out. and it is significant that just after this alleged visit Germans m large numbers made their appearance In Galicia and Hungary, and the strong offensive movement was initiated which compelled the Russians to retire and to yield ground which has ■not yet been completely recovered. *pie information with respect to the rendition of Austria-Hungary justifies the opinion that if Baron Burian gave the Germans an accurate description of conditions in the Dual Monarchy be would say very much what be was reported to have said, and it is diffimlt to believe that there was not pome foundation for the report of his c.Kempt to induce Germany to make peace. And if Austria-Hungary was of that mind in .January, what is her feeling to-day when her losses have been greatly increased and the outlook is even less hopeful? The war can end only in one way and it looks ns if one of the consequences will be the dismemberment of Franz Josefs irvstable Empire.