COMMON GROUND IN AUSTRIA.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 220, 30 June 1917, Page 6

COMMON GROUND IN AUSTRIA.

Reviewing the political situation in Austria, a correspondent of the London Morning Post recently stated that to suspend quarrels for the sake of peace is the main motive in the minds Roth of the Germans and Slavs. The main issue does not seem to rest with the Reichrath itself, but with the Delegations, the re-appearance of which in Austro-Hungarian Constitutional life is greeted with even greater joy than the meeting of the Austrian Parliament This body, a kind of joint Austrian and Hungarian Parliamentary Committee, dealing with financial and foreign affairs, being the only one before whicn the Foreign Minister has to appear, and to which lie is responsible, is regarded as the real centre of interest. The Austrian Parliament, which will no doubt have great majority advocating imme-

diate peace on the no-annexation basis, and with the application of democratic principles, will send men into the Delegations who will represent this policy, probably even two or three Socialists, whilst the Hungarian Parliament wall also be represented by one or two members of every Opposition Party, no doubt by Counts Karolyi, Apponyi, and Andrassy. As the Parliament is composed of a large majority of advocates of peace and a considerable number of anti-Germans, it is safe to presume that the sentiment represented by the majority will find expression during the session, and that the Government will be urged to assume a more independent course ■with regard to the war and to state definitely and clearly what are the aims of the Monarchy. And there is very little doubt that the Government will be only too willing to declare its readiness to agree to a peace without annexations and with autonomy for the nationalities, for such a policy would be in harmony with that of the Russian revolutionists, and the Emperor Charles would be only too pleased to secure peace at the price.