The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1915-12-24
WILL REGARD REPLY TO NOTE ON
ANCONA SINKING AS UNSATIS-
FACTORY IF TEXT is LIKE
PRESS DISPATCH.
AMERICA is PREPARED TO
INSIST ON DISAV0WAL
Severance of Diplomatic Relations
Would Result If Austria Should
Persist in Course She Apparent
ly Has Determined to Pursue
Papers Print Reply.

washington, Dec. 1S.-AuStrla re
ply to Secretary Lansing's note on thu
Arcona, received during the night, wa
laid before President Wilson and thu
cabinet and discussed more than al
hour.
The gravity of the situation caused
demands, which is considered evasive
unsatisfactory and unacceptable, re
manned unchanged.
Persistence by Austria-Hungary in
the course she apparently has deter
mined to pursue would result in the
severance of diplomatic relations be
tween the United States and the Wen
ma government.
This step would not be taken by the
United States, however, it was authori-
tatively stated, without one more COM
munication being dispatched to Aus
tria- Hungary.
U. S. Prepared to Insist.
The United States Is described as
being prepared to insist that Austria
Hungary promptly comply with the de-
mands for disavowal, punishment of
tAAO anu Cpdi
alton by payment of indemnity for the
Americans killed or injured in the de-
struction of the Italian liner, making
it clear that failure will mean imme-
date breaking off of relations.
A second note, it is said, would re-
new the original demands and without
dealing in a discussion or exchange Of
views would be of even more insist
ent nature as to the expectations of
compliance without further delay.
Reply Handed to Penfield.
The state department had received
no official information from it's own
source that Ambassador Penfield at
Vienna had been handed the reply.
From Baron Erich Zwiedinek, charge
of the Austro-Hungarian embassy
here, however, came the information
on Zwiedinek received wireless mes
sage from his government calling his
attention to the reply and giving him,
1t was believed, certain instructions as
to what course to pursue
Zwiedinek Calls on Lansing.
The charge called upon Secretary
Lansing twice during the day, once
during the forenoon and once in the !
afternoon, following the receipt of the |
wireless dispatch. On both occasions
he discussed the situation informally |
and received additional light on the |
views which this government holds.
The state department received a |
dispatch, described as being informa- |
tive, from Ambassador Penfeld, which |
described the view of the Austro-Hun- |
garian government and told of the |
feeling of Vienna officials in regard to I
the American note. The dispatch. it
was authoritatively stated, contained
no mention of reply having been
handed to the ambassador.
The report of the ambassador was
said to be different in several re-
spects from the press reports concern
ing the views of the Austro-Hungarian
government.
German Papers Print Reply.
Dispatches received from Amster-
Jam by Reuters News agency quotes
excerpts from the reply as printed in
German newspapers. He quotes as fol-
ows:
From the sharpness with which
he government of the United States
believed it ought to censure the COM
nander Of the submarine, and from
he firmness with which the demands
addressed to the Austro-Hungaria
government appear to have been
brought forward, it could be expected !,
hat the American government would
Hearty give the actual circumstances
pon which it relies. As can be easily {
ecognized, the representation of the
contained in the note
llows numerous doubts and gives not
t all sufficient reasons for blaming the {
commander of the submarine, and the
government, even if
he representation proves correct in
II points and judgment in the case is 8
ased on the most rigorous interpreta- I
on. &
Names of Witnesses Omitted. {
1.-THE American government also /
mitted to indicate the persons to /
hose statement it refers and to whom