AUSTRO-GERMANY.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 May 1918, Page 5

AUSTRO-GERMANY.

HERTLING INTERVIEWED.

FIGHTING FOR EXISTENCE. MACE NEGOTIATIONS STRESSED. Amsterdam, May 19. Count von Hertling, interviewed by the Berlin correspondent of the newspaper Azest, said he rejoiced at the German-Hungarian comradeship in aims, which obtained the better protection of Hungary's frontiers and other guarantees against Roumanian attack. Count voii Hertling dwelt on the beneficial effects of the new Austro-Germaii alliance, which was not aggressive, but designed to secure their place in the sun. He added smilingly that if ever the world united in an international peace league Germany would unhesitatingly and joyfully join. Unfortunately, present conditions gave the smallest hope of this.

"Our desire," he said, "is to win and preserve peace. We are now fighting for our existence and the peace which we long for. lam optimistic enough to believe we shall have peace this year, although the Entente statesmen still talk of crushing the Central Powers. It might have been thought that the attacks on Mr. Lloyd George, which after all indicate the stengthening of the peace idea, would have created a better basis for peace, but this is ilot the case. Nevertheless, I am firmly confident that further events on the West front will bring nearer the speedy end of the war."— Reuter.

, ASPIRANTS FOR EA9TERN THRONES. AGENTS BUSY. Amsterdam, May 19. The Vorwarts states that the various German courts aro most excited regarding the opportunities of obtaining thrones in the East. Agents are journeying in all directions on behalf of competing claimants. As there will bo at most six thrones to be distributed, and the German dynasties number 22, the Vorwarts suggests filling the thrones with Turkish princes, otherwise German unity will be imperilled.—Reuter.

THE FARMERS' OUTLOOK. A DOLEFUL PICTURE. Received May 20, 8.20 p.m. Amsterdam, May 19. The Bavarian agrarian leader, Dr. Heim, addressing the Farmers' League at Munich, said the cattle and other stock liad been decimated and the soil exhausted. It would be self-deception to believe that the pre-war conditions would ever return. The rebuilding would take decades. Germany would be unable to export goods which were needed at homo. Salvation lay between free trade and gonipukwy State control.—Router, _