AUSTRO-GERMAN TREATY.

Taihape Daily Times, 11 July 1918, Page 6

AUSTRO-GERMAN TREATY.

MILITARY AGREEMENT. “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. "It can in nowise be taken as a hindrance to relations which might be established eventually with other peoples in the economic domain J ’

Count Michael Ivarolyi, president of the Hungarian Independence Party, said ho wanted to know whether the 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 Charles. The Premier at this point was interrupted with the observation that the announcement conveyed meagre information. Ho replied;— “The official communique could not contain more than what happened. The discussions took place on questions which led to a prolongation of the existing alliance and for strengthf ening it for a long time to come.” Here the Premier was interrupted with strong applause from, the right and the centre. He continued: “The Emperors have agreed to request their Govenmcnts to open negotiations, but beyond this no formal treaty of any sort has been made. The negotiations soon will begin, and I think they will have the general approval of Hungarians who will be satisfied that out interests are so well maintained by such a proved alliance. ) “Naturally, certain military agreements also will be concluded. Agreements can be made during the Avar which relate to common action, but which have no connection with army organisation. We shall in no respect give up our right of decision. No one doubts closer economic ties arc as desirable as possible. “I repeat, we shall not give up in a single respect our independent right of decision. The validity of the economic agreement will depend on the approval of the House. ” There is a remarkable disparity between the advices from. Berlin and those from Vienna regarding the scope of the projected extension of the Aus-trian-German alliance. Whereas the Berlin version of the compact, according to the. Cologne Gazette, denies that ■ the alliance is to bo embodied in the Constitutions of the allied empires, direct advices from, Vienna on the same day affirm the contrary positively, declaring such embodiments to be a part of the programme.

The importance of this lies in the

fact that, should the proposals contemplate constitutional changes, they would have to be submitted to the Parliaments of both empires, whose assent would be necessary. In Vienna, there is no attempt to conceal the conviction that there lies numerous stumbling blocks in the path of the proposals, inasmuch as both in Austria-Hhngary and Germany there are political parties and business interests with sufficient power to exert strong opposition to a realisation of the idea of a unified Central Empire.

In Austro-Hungary it is expected the Czechs and south Slavs, would oppose it on national grounds, and certain industrial groups for economic reasons which are patent, as a tariff union is spoken of in well-informed Viennese circles as well within the scope of the new 'agreement, although it is asserted that no (tariff war against other countries is intended.