Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1915-12-23
AUSTRIA REPLY
ACCE DES To NO
Demands Of j. 5.
Describes the American Note
AS Too Sharp and Invites
Further Discussion of
AncOna Case.

erican note on tho sinking of the !tulian
liner Ancona Just made public reads as
follows
American Embassy Vienna,
pcccmhc: IS, 1915.
Secretary Of State. WashinEton
Following note received from Minister
for Foreign Affairs noon to-day:
In reply TO tho much esteemed note,
No. 4,l87. which his Excellcncy Frederic
CORTLAND penfleld. ambassador extra
ordinary and plenpotontiary Of tho United
States of America. directed 70 him In the
name Of the American government under
date of tho 9Th inst, and In the matter
of the sinking OF the Italian steamer
Ancona, The undersigned, preliminary to
thorough, merltcrious treatment of tho
demand, has the honor to observe that
the sharpness with which the govern
ment Of the United states considers It
necessary TO blame the commanding Of
deer of the submarine concerned in the
affair. and the frniiess in which the de-
inands addressed 20 tho imperial and
royal government appear TO DO expressed,
might well navo warranted the eNpecta-
ton that the government of tho United
States should precisely specify the actual
circumstances Of the affair upon which
1t baees Its care.
AS Is not difficult to Perceive. the
presentation Of tho facts In the case in
the aforesaid note leaves room for many
doubts, and even II this presentation were
correct In all points and the most rigorous
legal conception were applied 10 the judg-
ment OF tho case. 1t does not in any way
sufficiently warrant attaching blame to
we commanding orllcer OF the war YES
W '"e i'''pe'ial anu roEa' so'erh-
NJ
f"e government OF the United states
mas also fa''ed to designate the persons
upon whose testimony 1t relies and to
"honi 1T apparently believes 1t may at
'r'ou't niShef degree "i credibility than
10 the commander OF the imperial and
'"3ai 'ee'' ne note also fa'is To give
any Information whatsoever as to the
NUMBER names ana more precise fate Of
the American CITIZENS who were on board
OIL tle saiu steamer at tho critical
moment
Moreover IN View OF the fact that the
Washington cabinet has now made n
positive statement to the effect that citi-
zens or the United States OF America
~"'NA~ ~ S'''' w 'hS AhS"thl III uutStipH
the imperial and royal government is in
principle ready to enter into an exchange
OF views In the affair with the govern
hnent OF the United states. 1t must. how
ever IN the nrst place. raise the question
why mat government failed to give
Juridlcal reasons for the demands set
forth in its note with reference to the
special circumstances of the discriminating
events upon which 1t Itself lays stress
ana why In lieu Thereon 1t referred TO an
exchange OF correspondence when 1t mas
No'uuc'ed WIFI announcer government III
otner cases'
Inc 'hiPellai ana royal government Is
'he less aoie 10 loiioW the washington
oaoihet III TINS uhusual PAIN since IL by
no means possesses authchuc knowledge
OF all OF the pertinent correspondence OF
me government OF the ,n,ted states nor
Is IL "i 'he op'n'oh mat su'h kho"ieuse
might nc s"Hicieht lor II III the present
case "hlch' III so 1tr as II Is INFORMED. Is
IN essential points OF another nature than
me case or cases 10 Which the government
OF the 'hited states seems 10 aHuue' Inc
inperlai ana royal government may
therefore, ieaVe IL 10 'he "ash'hs'"n
cdp'het 10 lorHn"iate the particular poihls
o' law AGAINST "h'ch 'he commanding oi
ncer OF 'he submarine Is aieseo 10 nave
oHehueu Oh the occasion OF 'he shN'Ns
or lhe Ahcona'
Inc government OF the hited STATES mas
als' seen III 10 reier 10 the at''tuoe "nich
the heri'h 'ap'het assumed III the aooNe
mentioned correspondence Inc i'nperi"
ana royal government mas III the Hucn
esteemed note no indication Whatever o.
the intent win "hlch this reference was