Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1915-12-18
NEW ANCONA
NOTE READY;
BREAK IS NEAR
U. S. Rejoinder Said to
Be in Form of
Ultimatum.
OFFICIAL TEXT OF REPLY
BY VIENNA is GIVEN OUT
Denies That Submarine Com-
mander or Government Can
Be Blamed.
OFFICIAL TEXT OF REPLY
BY VIENNA is GIVEN OUT

WASHINGTON, Dec. 1s.--President
Wilson began work today on the Sec
ond note to Austria on the sinking Of
the Ancona.
Friendly relations between the
United States and Austria, it was
stated authoritatively, are nearing the
breaking point, and their continuance
win depend entirely upon the reply
Austria will be asked to make inn
mediately to the note being framed
today.
Secretary Lansing has prepared a
vigorous message 1t will be o. KID
by the president today, and will be
cabled tonight, according to plans an
nouhced this morning.
The note is now in the presidents
hands for final approval. 1t Is author
itatively stated the reply is brief,
sharp and permits Of no further quib-
bling.
The official text of Austria's reply
to the American note on the Ancona,
made public here today, reveals that
the Vienna government denies that
the views presented by the United
States, even if correct, warrant the
blame for the disaster being placed
upon the commander of the subna-
rine.
The reply denies also that blame
can be placed upon tine Austro- Hun
garian government ever if "a most
rigorous legal construction were ap-
piled to the judgment Of the case
The note also states that the Aus
tro- Hungarian government is unable
TO determine what the United States
intended to indicate when it mem
toned the attitude which Germany
had assumed toward submarine war
fare It adds that if the United
States intended ITO express an opin-
ion to the effect that a prejudice of
whatever nature existed" with respect
to ''juridical consideration Of he
affair the Vienna government declares
that it reserves to itself ssull freedom
of maintaining its own legal xiew.'
Except. for slight variation IN ,ral1s-
lati0n the remainder Of lie Official
text virtually is Identical with the
unofficial version. cabled from Lon
don.
Promptness Is Significant,
The promptness in which this gov
ernment has acted leaves no doubt
that the request voiced in the Aus
trian note has been rejected. The
reply was drawn by Secretary Lam
sing last night following lengthy
discussion OF the situation by the
cabinet yesterday and agreement by
the cabinet as to the message to be
sent.
whether or not a time limit is given
Austria to comply with the presi-
dents first demand for disayowal
Of the Ancona sinking could not be
learned. Such a time limit would
make the present note an ultimatuih
and rejection of it's requests would rC-
suit In the immediate severance of
diplomatic relations between the two
countries.
1t was stated at the White House
the international situation would
cause no change in the presidents
plans either for his wedding or his
honeymoon. 1t was said, however,
he will be in direct touch with the
White House and Secretary Lansing's
office all the time he is away from
the White House
Swiedinel Sees Lansing.
Last nights study of the Lusitania
correspondence with Germany is be-
lieved only to have confirmed Secre-
tary Lansing in the opinion that Aus
tria had all necessary knowledge of
the principles insisted upon by the
United States in submarine warfare
the principles conceded by Germany
eventually. The statement was made
positively today that Austria's rep
resentative here received copies of
that correspondence and that Austria
could not fail to know the American
position.
Baron Zwiedinek, charge of the
Austro- Hungarian embassy, conferred
with Count Won Bernstorff the Ger
man ambassador, today, and soon
afterward had a conference with Sec
retary Lansing. The charge was un-
derstood to have received more in
Htructions from his government. The
yeracity of at least one of the Ameri-
cans saved from the Ancona, who
made an affldayit, is being attacked.
Secretary Lansing's memorandum
sent to the president contains ex-
cerpts from affidavits, and that was
taken to indicate that the new note
TO Austria will give some of the facts
requested by Vienna II was said,
lengthy discussion of details
The official text of the note from
Austria, Secretary Lansing said may
be made public sometime this after
noon. 1t will depend very much on
the result of conference which he
will hold with Baron ZwiedinelI, Aus
trian charge, at the state department,
about 3 o'clock.