Evening star., 1915-12-31
u. s. IS GRAT|F|ED
At AUSTRIAN NOTE
Punishment of Submarine
Commander Is Regarded as
Practical DisaVoWal.
QUESTION OF INDEMNITY
REMAINS TO BE ADJUSTED
Vienna's Reply Is Being Translated
From Code at State Department,
Secretary Announces.

The official text of Austria S
Ancona note was received early
today at the State Department.
The work of translating from the
diplomatic code will take several
hours, and arrangements for pub
lication will be made later.
The reply came in sections.
Secretary Lansing said this fore
noon that one section had been
translated, and that he expected
the complete translation would be
in his hands before tonight.
Gratified at Note.
Officials who had read the unofficial
version of the reply received in press
dispatches from London apparently
were much gratifed at it's nature.
Danger of break of diplomatic rela-
tions with Austria Hungary was no
longer considered imminent. Officials
said, however, that additional corre-
ensue. Secretary Lansing declined to
comment upon the reply until he had
the complete official text before him
1t was considered doubtful that the
official text would be given out for
publication either today or tomorrow
unless some provision for such pup
lication has been appended to the text
by Amba ssador Penf1eld at Vienna
Secretary Lansing has received from
Ambassador Penfield a brief resume OF
the contents of the note. He declined,
however. to make public this as
patch or comment upon it.
Question Of Indemnity Remains.
If the official text of Austrla's re-
ply to the second American note con-
forms to press dispatches saying that
the submarine commander who tor
pedoed the steamer had been pun
ished. virtually only one phase of the
incident remains to be cleared up.
That would be the payment of indem-
nifty for American lives lost, for which
Austria has expressed Willingness
to make reparation. Later, however,
there may be full exchanges between
the United States and Austria on the
question of submarine warfare and the
necessity for warning before attack
ing merchantmen.
It was pointed out here that In pun
iShlng the submarine commander Ioi
failure to take into account the panic
prevailing aboard the Ancona before
torpedoing the vessel the Austrian gov
ernment, in effect. disavowed the act
and gave assurances that there would
be no repetition of such an incident.
German Envoy Sees Secretary.
Count Bernstorff. the German am
bassador. called at the State Depart
ment and conferred with Secretary
Lansing nearly half an hour.
The ambassador said he believed the
news summary of the note saying Aus
tria had punished the commander of
the submarine which sank the An
coma. ar; that the Vienna government
had offered indemnity for the loss of
life and injury Of American citizens
was correct. He declined to comment
upon his visit.
Later, it was learned. the German
view is that Austria Hungary had
granted complete concessions to the
American demands.
Secretary Lansing let II be known
that he and the German ambassador
had discussed the Lusitania contro-
versy. but it was not indicated what
had been the result. There have been
assurances lately that the ambassador
would be authorized by his government
to present at the beginning of the new
wear PROPOSALS of settlement which
would be acceptable to the United
States