New-York tribune., 1915-12-15
Austrian Dispatches
Indicate Attempt
at Evasion.
LIGHT SOUGHT
BY ZWIEDINEK
Wants to Know What Will
Satisfy u. S.-Cabinet
Discusses Note.
From the Tribune Bureau ]


Washington, Dec. 14.-Vienna, in
dignant at the curtness Of the Amer
lean demands on the Ancona case,
may refuse TO accede on the ground
that she was not acquainted with
the principles laid down by the
United States in the Lusitania ne
gotiations. The American note as
sumed that Austria had full infor-
nation on the issues involved. BY
denying this assumption Vienna
might seek to open a long discus
sion Of the submarine question:
discussion such as that which is
still pending with Germany.
This was indicated in reports
from Vienna to-day, which said that
the note was weak in a salient point
and thus was deprived of its foun-
dgtion. The view is held in Austrian
official circles, according to these dis
patches, that the government could
not be expected to have knowledge
Of the Lusitania negotiations. Such
/ information as it received was OBJ
tanned through newspaper reports,
which are without diplomatic value.
8 State Department officials declare
- that this stand is entirely unjusti
! fed. Not only was Ambassador
I Dumba kept advised Of the progress
Of the negotiations by the State De-
rartment, but the notorious state
ment bryan made to Ambassador
I Dumba-that the first Lusitania
note was not to be taken seriously
is pointed to as conclusive proof
that the Ambassador was so ad-
vised. Washington holds that the
/ United States is justified in assum-
! ing that Dumba communicated his
/ knowledge to Vienna.
The indignation in Vienna confirmed
by reports to-day-at the American
note confirms the opinion expressed i'm
mediately after its publication here by
close students Of the situation that
break in relations was practically IN
eyitable if the United States stood
souarely on the note. The State De
partment shows no inclination TO re-
/ cede from the stand il has taken, and
is evidently prepared TO face q break
II Austria replies with anything less
/ than a complete compliance.
The conviction grows daily at the
State Department that Germany is to
blame for the Ancona sinking. This be-
lief was held when the note was drawn,
and was the reason for the incorpora-
ton of the demand not made in the
/ Arabic case, that the commander OF
the submarine be punished. The Aus
/ trian governments report of the diff
/ ficulty of communicating with the sub
marine" and the recent statement from
/ Vienna that the underses boat is be-
( lieved to have been lost confirms the
| hypothesis.
! The same assumption is responsible
/ for the blunt and drastic character OF
the note. If it had been believed that
Austria alone was responsible for the
attack on the Ancona, much mllder
| note would have been sent. A mild
/ tote, however, would not reach the real
/ culprit, Germany. The State Depart
/ ment believes that it has placed Ger
many in a most uncomfortable position
/ by its vigorous action toward Austria,
which it believes merely assumed re-
/ sponsibility for an act committed by
/ Germany in order to acquit Germany
| of breach of its agreement with the
/ United States.
Talk of Tentative Reply.
r az