The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1915-12-29

CASE OF AUSTRIA IN POINT
Not a Formal Declaration Of
War, But Unpleasant
Situation.
UNCERTAIN WHAT MIGHT COME

The question here asked is doubt
less in many minds:
ITO the Editor of The SUM-
VIII you kindly explain what the sew
ering Of diplomatic relations really
means, or rather what the effect of
such action is? | mean outside of the
possibility of war following, is there
any gain or loss to either side, and
what would be the possible loss to
Austria, for instance. should a rup-
ture occur? p. H. e."
In the present case the severance
of diplomatic relations would mean
that this Government was no longer
on speaking terms with the Govern
ment of Austria-Hungary; that in
tercourse between the two Govern
ments, formerly conducted directly,
would have to be either suspended
Tor circuitously managed through the
as in the case of belligerents.
From the point of view of Wash
ington the normal and sentimental
significance of such proceeding has
already been explained. Secretary
Lansing defined IL when he remind
ed Austria-Hungary that. the wan
ton slaughter of neutral non-com-
batants, under conditions admitted
by the Austro-Hungarian Admiral
ty's statement, was an act which is
p,ondemned by the world as inhuman
>-and barbarous, and which, unless
there shall be disavowal and repara-
ton, is properly destructive of good
relations between the two countries.
What our correspondent wants to
know, however, is not so much the
moral significance of such action in
our own view and that of the civil
lized neutral world, as its practical
effect upon the Government and peo-
pie thus rebuked
We reply that the practical effect
upon Austria would depend upon the
unpredictable course of events fol-
lowing the breaking of diplomatic
relations and on the methods by
which our Government gave concrete
expression to it's new attitude to-
ward Austria-Hungary.
1t is useless to blink the fact that
the termination of diplomatic rela-
tions, while not necessarily leading
TO war. would greatly increase the
possibility of actual hostilities. In
case of a repetition of the incident
which had been our reason for re-
calling the American Ambassador
and sending home the representative
,,of AUSTRIA Hungary, nothing would
&be left for us to do but to accept
}he further outrage unless we were
! prepared to proceed to physical acts
of belligerency in Furnishing it.
That contingency need not be dis
cussed. Short of war. there might
follow the twelve months notice OF
the termination of the treaty OF
k1S29, upon which rest our relations
of amity and reciprocity in matters
of commerce and navigation. This
is typical treaty defining the mu-
tual rights of residence and trade
assd the mutual guarantees OF Sc
6rity, protection and most favored
nation privileges. Its comprehensive
provisions cover so much of Austrian
and Hungarian interests within our
borders, and likewise so much OF
American interests in the territory
of the empire, that the blessings Of
its operation and the continuity of
its existence are taken for granted
by almost everybody, like the bless
ings and continued accessibility OF
the air we breathe. Nevertheless,
the treaty is scrap of paper which
can be legally and honorably termi-
rated at years notice. Whether
the greater sufferer by the termina-
tion Of this contract Of amity and
mutual privileges would be Ameri-
ca or Austria Hungary, is question