The Detroit times., 1915-12-18
Austria Refuses to
Blame Commander

WASHINGTON, Dec. 1s.-The
text OF the Austrian note on the An
coma sinking. rs given cut by. the
state Department this afternoon fol
lows:
In reply to tho much-esteemed note
number ilbI, wGicn his eNcellencF.
Frederic Courtland pcnheld, ambas-
sador extraordinary and plenipoten-
tiary of the United states ot America,
directed TO him IN the name OF the
American government under date OF
the ninth instant, in the matter OF
the sinking OF the Italian steamer
AnCOna. the undersigned. preliminary
10 thorough, merltOrious treatment
OF the demand, mas the honor to OBJ
serve that the sharpness with which
the government Of the United states
considers IL necessary to blame the
commanding officer OF the submarine
concerned in the AFFAIR and the firm-
ness IN which the demands addressed
10 the imperial and royal government
10 he Expressed, might well nave
warranted the expectation that the
government ~ the United states
circumstances of the affair upon
which ~ bases its case. As IL not
difficult 10 perceive the presentation
OF the facts IN the case In the afore-
said note leaves room for many
doubts. and even II this presentation
were correct IN all points and the
most rigorous legal conception were
applied 20 the judgment of the case,
IL does not In any way sufficiently
warrant attaching blame 20 the corn
manding officer OF the war vessel. or
to the imperial and royal govern
ment
The government OF the United
states has also failed 10 designate
the, persons upon whose testimony IL
relies, ana to whom II apparently be-
lieves II may attribute 81 higher de-
rf a fN he
msnder OF the Imperial and royal
feet Tho note also falls TO give any
information whatsoever as TO the
number. names and more precise fate
Of tho American citizens who were
on board Of TIE said steamer at the
critical moment
However. IN view OF the fact that
the Washington cabinet has now
made positive statement to the ef-
fect that citizens OF tho United
states OF America came TO grief In
I tho incident In question, the Imperial
and royal government IN In principle
ready TO enter into an exchange Of
Views IN the affair with the govern
ment Of the Emitted states. r, muat,
however. In the first place. raise tho
I question why that government IA led
to give judicial reasons for the de-
mands set forth In It's note with ref
ference TO the special circumstances
Of the discriminating events upon
which IL itself lays stress. and why,
in lieu thereof, ~ refused TO an ex-
change OF correspondence which II
has conducted with another govern
ment In other. cases.
The imperial and royal govern
ment II thu less able 20 follow the
Washington cabinet on this unusual
path. since n by no means possesEer
authentic knowledge of all of the
pertinent correspondence OF the gov
ernment Of the United states nor IL
u Of the opinion that such knowledge
might be sufficient for IL In the pres
cnt case, which. insofar ~ ~ Is in
formed. Il in essential points or an
other nature than thc case or caH"s
! 20 which the government or the
! United states seems 20 allude. The
/ imperial and royal government may
therefore leave N TO tho washington
cabinet TO formulate the partlcular
pnints Of law against which TIE rrm-
handing officer OF the submarine is
/ alleged 20 have offended on tho &C.
casion of the sinking Of The Ancona
The government ~ the United
/ states has also seen 1T to refer 20
! the attitude which the Berlin cabinet
assumed In tho above cor .
respondencs. The imperial and royal
government hnds IN the much-cs-
teemed note no indication whatever
/ ~ the intent with which this refer
ence was made. should, however. IN"
government OF the United states
| hereby have intended 10 express an
( opinion 20 the efrect that y prejudice
/ ot whatever nature existed for The
I imperial and royal government with
/ respect 20 the iuridical consideration
d - the an1tr Ia que ton. this govern
ment must. In order 10 preclude Dos
! sible misunderstandings, declare that
a. matter OF couree ~ reserves 10
itself fun freedom % maintaining its
own legal views In the discussion Of
/ the case Of the Anoona
I'm having the honor 10 have re-
! course TO the Kindness Of his excel