Evening star., 1915-12-17

Austria'S Reply to U. S. Note
Shifts the 0nus of Defense,
Is View in German Circles
BERLIN, via London. December Il. 3:35
a-m.-Seldom has diplomatic document
of war series met with such general ap-
proval in German circles as the answer of
Baron Burian. Austrian minister of for
eign affairs, TO the note from the United
States regarding the Ancona case. The
reply is regarded not only as success
in finding weak points in Secretary of
State Lansing's logic but as dignified
reply TO the American demands for a
prompt disavowal and punishment of the
commander of the submarine which sank
the Ancona.
The German notes in the Lustania COR
respondence all had their critics. some
finding Germany too conciliatory and
others insufficientIy adept. but the general
opinion expressed in political circles lis
that Baron Burian struck exactly the
right note and by inviting Washington to
enter on an interchange of views and sub
nit some proof for the charges. shifted
the onus OF defense to the shoulders OF
the American government.
Views of the Press.
The Lokal Anzeiger. the Tages zei-
tung. the kreuz Zeitung and the lei
tung Am Mittag all express thorough
going approval of the Austro-Hunga-
rian reply to the American note on
the Ancona. OF the out-of-town pa
Cologne Volks Zeituug praise the deft
and polished manner in which Count
Burian found weaknesses in his oppo-
nent's fence"
The Lokal Anzeiger points out that
the Austrian reply has not fulhiled
American expectations of prompt COM
pliance with all the demands. but that,
on the contrary. the Austro-H
government, while entering "a dlgnl-
fed disclaimer against the wholly un-
justified sharpness of the American de-
mands," requests some legal founda-
tion for the accusations against the
subma rine commander.
President wilson, it continues, has
considered it right to demand in the
brusQueSt tone compensation and self
punishment on the basis of statements
Of anonymous witnesses and on the
basis of material which was SO signify
convincing that the collector was
forced to rob it of effectiveness by in
definite expressions.
The Austrian note will bring Presi-
dent Wilson to realization that IN IN
ternational relations it is not sumcient
to make demands.
Does Not Disguise Its Pleasure.
TO conceal it's pleasure and satisfaction
at the delicious way" in which the
elementary lessons in diplomatic pro-
cedure have been impaired and won
ders whether President Wilson and
ssvr-fI
defeat or sever diplomatic relations"
The Taglische Rundschau says Presi-
dent Wilson will be undeceived ii he
had hoped to intimidate Austria Hungary
through a note the tone of which, 1t
says. would have excited remark even
II addressed to South American coun-
try.
II it tthe Austrian note) receives an
unfriendly reception in America" says
the newspaper. Baron Burian may
the conciliation of the German govern
ment has met only with unfriendliness,
even hostility" i
The Taglische Rundschau recites q
long list of alleged American offenses
against the Teutonic powers, including
Boyd and Won Papen. and of DIR.
Dumba, and suggests that the best,
and perhaps last. method of improv-
ing German American relations would
be to dispatch an extraordinary mis-
sion to the United States to lay the
situation clearly before the American
people in an endeavor to clarity II.
Classed as Diplomatic Masterpiece.
Die Post cahs the Austrian answer
a diplomatic masterpiece. 1t says that
Baron Burian touched the proper chord
by not losing himself in a discussion
OF generalities and the principles q
which the United States refused to rec
ognize. and to which the rest of the
world pays little attention.
The Cologne Gazette says: THE
Austro- Hungarian note is much subtIer
and therefore more effective than the
American note. Washington has made
the task unusually light by it's ref
erence to the correspondents with
Berlin.
The yolks Zeitung says: Count
Burian chooses against President will
sons ponderous method the trenchant
weapon Of biting irony"
The Munich Neueste Nachrichten
says: The dignified and businesslik ke
tone of the answer offers q pleasant
contrast to tho weakness of the rea-
:oning on which Washington based Its
demandA''
Little Diplomatic Aptness."
Capt. L Persius. naval expert of the
Tageblatt, makes the following com.
ment today on the Austrian note:
Washington plainly forgot when ii
sent its note that its case rested on
statements of excited passengers az
against sworn statements of Austrian
naval officers. The American note
shows little diplomatic aptness.
"It was reRrettably hurried uork
based on one-sided and inadequate in.
formation. and amazingly deficient II
iurtstfc understanding. The Austrian
note. on the contrary, points out tn.
weaknesses and absurdity OF these ac
cusations-"
The Cologne Gazette says: "Americs
may now choose. II 1t desires intercours.
as well hammered state with other larx,
and well hammered states, it must brins
itself TO accede to the standpoint of thu
Vienna note and first fulfll condition,
without which the question at issue can
not be dealt with between nations Of eaua
standiug."
AS an alterna tive il will have to lear,
that Austria Hungary does not let It
self be handled as a Central American
state. which one can bluff into timor
GUS subordination with rude, big words
Then the conflict will be at hand an,
nobody but the Washington govern
ment will have deliberately desired IT,
The Boersen Zeitung says:
The Vienna note 10 not really an an
swer. but demand that the Unite
states define its position in a manne