Arizona republican., 1915-12-18

MODERATION IN COMMENT VIENNA. Dec. 16 (via London. Dec. 1O-The editorial comment on the Austro- Hungarian governments reply to the American governments note concerning the sinking of the Italian liner Ancona is characterized by mod eration. The reply was published this morning. The comment of the Neue F'reie Presse probably is the most caustic of any of the newspapers.
 Baron Buria." says this newspaper. has answered the uncouth note of the United States with careful reserve. In the preliminary counter explana- tion, an effort is made to induce the Washington cabinet to establish the reliability of the charges that inter- national law had been violated, instead of accepting the generalitieS of accu- sations made in a state of super-eX- citement. The calm treatment of the American note is good, for the req son that the old world has been stu pid enough to make itself economically dependent upon the new world by wasting it's strength. But it will show itself superior in the pOliteness gov erning the relations between peoples"
 The Neue Freie Presse and other na- pers point to the impossibility of the
  ting that the commander of the sub marine which sank the Ancona should be punished for a possible deficiency upon the demand of another govern ment. and when the evidence upon which such demand is based is not accessible to the Austro- Hungarian government and consists entirely of statements made by the plaintiffs side. The newspapers say this is con- trary to any law or system of juris- prudence and in addition incompatible with the fundamental principles of state sovereignty.
 The American government. the newspapers assert, would not think of granting any such demand for the reasons stated nor could it entertain doing so if it did not desire utterly to demoralize it's naval service by giv- ing its officers to understand that while they were expected to carry out l orders. the consequences of perform ing the duties so imposed would be visited upon them.
 Concerning the American attitude ] that Austria Hungary should pass it's 1 instructions to submarine commanders | on the American notes to the German 1 government in the Lusitania case, the newspaper say that while American government would be justified in mak- l ing it's position in that instance l precedent, it could not use it on the principle that ignorance is no excuse l before the law since in this case the American government is not the judge but the plaintiff, who, enjoys, accord 1 ing to international law, no prerOga 1 tives nor privileges which the Austro ' 1 Hungarian government. as the agent 1 of orr, 6OaG n Nor. say the editorials. is the Amer l ican government justified in looking l upon Austria Hungary as Germanys s 1 vassal state. This idea. which they l assume the Washington note indirectly | indicates, they declare to be most ab- surd Austria Hungary, they add now l as ever, is a separate and independent l state and any relations the American | government may have with Austria I Hungary must have this fact as a basis
 1 Some of the papers express the be- | lief that the American note was has 1 tily drafted and that it's equity as l poets were not thoroughly considered l before the note was transmitted, be- | cause, they argue there is no reason | to believe that Washington, as the | champion of international law, would ihave purposely ignored so fundamental | a principle of international law as l state sovereignty. which the note in l many essentials entirely overlooked.