The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1915-12-16
AUSTRIA RELIEVES
|. TENSION WITH i. 5.
Vienna Anxious to Avoid Break
and May Yield.
OFFER OF COMPROMISE SEEN
Austrian Charge confers With seere
tary of State and Ancona Case Is
piscussed-Fears Washington
influence on Balkans.

Washington, Dec. 14.-After a con-
ference between Baron Zwiedinek, Aus
trian charge d'affaires, and Secretary Of
State Lansing on the American protest
to Austria in the Ancona case, high
officials of the department indicated
that Austrias reply will avert break
between the two governments. They
intimated:
First-That Austria has decided to
make her reply in the form of COM
promise with important concessions to
the United States.
Second-She will maintain that the
essential duty of the submarine COM
mander was performed when he fired
warning shot to halt the Ancona.
Third-Austria will contend that it
is a question, inasmuch as the vessel
tried first to escape, whether she was
not responsible herself for subsequent
occurrences.
Fourth-That whether or not she
was responsible, the firing on the
ships boats, if officially proved, was
iudefensible and the Austrian govern
ment comedies with the views OF the
United States that the act and its con-
sequences were contrary to the prin-
ciples of civilized warfare.
The interview with Secretary Lam
sing it was admitted officially, was on
the Ancona case and other matters.
1t was sought by Baron Zwiedinek.
This was regarded as clear evidence
that he had heard from his govern
ment after its receipt of the protest.
No Time Limit.
1t is understood that Austria has
made in fact what might be called
preliminary communication on the
United States protest. 1t was noted
that after the call of Baron Zwie-
dinek officials declined to commit
themselves on the question of this
government prescribing limit of time
in which Austria must reply.
Views Are Summarized.
Two of the highest officials of the
department summarized the situation
as follows:
A break between Austria and the
Emitted States over the Ancona case
would play into the hands of the enc
mics of Germany and Austria. The
moment it became evident in the Bal
kan states that the United States
would sever diplomatic relations with
Austria there would be revolution of
sentiment. Roumania would cease to
obstruct Russia, and Greece, so far as
the people themselves are concerned,
would decide openly for the allies.
This contingency there is good rea-
son to believe, is at the bottom of the
present attitude of Austria toward
the American demands. We look for
an offer of compromise on some OF
the principles and not for action by
Austria which would hurt her inter
ests in the Balkan states"
Precedent Is Lacking.
These officials, nevertheless, think
that Austria will find it difficult to
find either in the declaration of Lon
don or in any international law war.
rant for holding that the Ancona.
having tried first to escape, but after
wards practically surrendering, made
herself liable to any punitive action
by the submarine. A denunciation of
the submarine commander, however,
for his act, even though the 'princi-
pie" is reserved, might induce the
United States to make it a question
of future diplomatic discussion.
The main point of the note from the
American diplomatic viewpoint is that
Austria shall subscribe now publicly
to the principle that submarine COM
manders must follow not only the
spirit but the letter of the declara.
ton of London as TO putting noncom-
batants in a place of safety.
viii Not Arbitrate.
officials say that the United States
will not arbitrate any of the ques-
tions it has submitted to Austria.
They indicate, however, that if Aus
tria denounces the particular act of
her submarine commander and makes
guarantees for the future the acute
question will disappear and diplo-
matte relations will not be severed.
They say that while it is improbable.
it is not impossible that the subma.
rine which sank the Ancona has disap-
peared from its base and has been I'M
able to return.
One of the officials pointed out
that dispatches lately showed that an
Austrian submarine had been obliged
to hold up one of the Standard OH
vessels in the Mediterranean to get
food This indicated that the vessel
had been cut off from its base OF sup
ply or that its base had been masked
or DESTROYED.