The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1915-12-29
REPLY TO AUSTRIA
RECORD BREAKING ANSWER By
STATE DEPARTMENT
NOTE ALREADY Sent


day and 1t is Immediately Dispatch
ed-Leayes no Doubt as to Ameri-
can Position.
s The request Of the imperial govern
,ment OF Austria for bill tlf particu-
lars In Sae Aneona case provoked 8
reply from the United States in record
breaking time. The reply is under
stood to be on its way, but officials
refuse to confirm the statement.
The prompt decision Of the Amerl-
can government in complying with
the Austrian request, and at the same
time repeating its demand for prop
sr explanation Of the violation OF IN
ternaIional law, Is deemed highly sig
nifcant in Washington.
It indicates to both the diplomatic
and official mind the determination
Of this government to proceed with
ONT loss of time to compel a proper
respect for its rights on the part OF
the aAastro-Hungarian government
The note containing such specidca-
tons, in support Of the contention OF
the United States that Austria mas
disregarded its rights, was prepared
by President Wilson and Secretary
Lansing early after the officials hao
diessted the communication sent by
The Austrian government In answer
/; to the first protest OF the United
States.
q THE Austrian note was much mild
S er than the officials Of this govern
rnent had been led to expect oy the
forecast telegraphed from Vienna.
$ In the Austrian reply the state
nnents were made by the Austrian ad-
2 nniraity regarding the circumstances
Of the loss of the Ancona are pre-
sented as sufficient justification for
fhe demand made by this government
for prompt disayowal Of the acts or
the submarine commander.
Immediately after the Ancona was
attacked, the Austrian admiralty an
nounce6 that she had been torpedoed
while messengers and crew were still
aboard. because il was the fear OF the
submarine commander that ne was
about to be attacked by an approach
Z ing vessel.
It was on these facts that the
American demands were based, ano
which underiie its repetition OF that
demand.
The note dawn by the president
and secretary OF state Saturday after
noon establishes the conviction OF the
American government that the Aus
I, /. triau submarine commander had no
fustifcation for his acts, as described
IN xY,e Austrian admiralty, in Its
statement published Immediately
after fhe vessel had been sent to the
bottom.
It Is pointed out in the American
ennte that the Austrian admiralty did
not even contend that the Ancona
was: attempting to escape when she
was torpedoed but that, on the con
trary. the admiralty admitted that ene
vessel had halted in response to a
shot across her bows
IS The American note also contains
9erse recital of the uRdisputed Facts
regarding the destruction Of the ship,
and then makes It plain that the
United States no longer can consenf
Is debate these facts, unless they
should be repudiated by the Austrian
government,
There is good reason to justify the
statement that while the tone OF the
repIy sent TO Austria Is qoite as hrn
as that of the original demand, way
: Is left for formal discussion. until the
facts presented by both sides have
been established beyond dispute.
The note also win say that, from
the facts, Of which the American gov
eminent does not entertain. the slight
est Question. there remains nothing to
settle except the responsibility OF the
s Austrian government for having VIC
lated the law. and its decision wheth-
er it shall offer proper reparation or
contest the right Of the United States
to demand one.
The American note renews the SEN
timents expressed in its note OF
December s, indicating its desire to
maintain friendly relations with Aus
tria. But the communication is coucn-
ed in such language as to permit no
doubt Of the part of Austria that. in
order to perpetuate such relations,
she immediately must disayow the
set OF the submarine commander as
inhuman, punish him for his viola
tom OF international right, and make
2 reparation for the loss Of Americans.
It will be clearly revealed that
there can be no other basis on which
she two governments can preserve
nicable relations.
OfficiaIs Of the state department
not expect a reply to the new note
sS:s at least week. Also, they are
wiling to conjecture as to the
II Austria continues to
eyade the demand contained in the
$ requests made Of 1t.