The Washington times., 1915-12-22
Responsibility Is Charged.

days note Is the specific charge OF
responsibility made against the Aus
tro-Hungarian government In the
first note the blame was laid on the
submarine commander, the United
states assuming that the commander
had acted in violation OF his instruc-
tions. The Austro- Hungarian gov
ernment in its reply refused to accept
this means OF avoiding responsibility,
and in effect upheld the legality OF
the submarine commanders act. The
United states then shifted its charge
of direct responsibility to the Aust"o-
Hungarian government itself.
NotwithstoLdins It's curt dismissal or
ALL A lstrla'S suggestions OF fhrther
parleys. however, thc tone OF the note
Is less severe than that Cf the first
note.
Particularly is this true in the para
graph conto oined in both notes. whiSh
conveys warning that the nited
states will sever diplomatic relations
If its demands arc not compiled with.
In the first note the United States
said
AS tho good relations OF the two,
countries must rest upon common re-
gard for law and humanity, the Govern
mcnt OF the United states cannot he
| expected to do otherwise than to de-
| mand that the imperial and royal gov
| ernment denounce the sinking OF the
! AnCona az an illegal and indefensipie
| act
| Neither Argument Nor Evidence.
! Ir today's note the United states re-
news tho definite but respectful &C.
rf,ands" made in it's first note, and
| 3Gus:
II the United States Govcrnmentl
sincerely hopes that the foregoing
| statement of it's position VIII enable
| the imperial and royal government to
perceive tho justice Of those demands
! and to comply with them IN the same
| spirit OF frankncss and with tn" same
| concern for the good relations now en-
| lstng between the United states ana
| Austria Hungary which prompted the
| COY ernmcnt OF the United states TO
make them.
rbe note is short less than 80 words
in length. l. is the shortest diplomatic
note sent during the entire submarine
| controversy. This is due TO the fact
that IL docs not restate the demands
I'made in tho first note, and does not
! sub nit evidence to support thc facS
! nor-arsur1ents to support the law.
A marked characteristic of today's
'notc Is tho, trmness with which the
United States rejects all the sugses-
tons made in Austria's recent reply
looking to a proionGation Of negotia-
| lions. Taking up these suggestions by
| the Austro- Hungarian government one
BY one. today's note dsmisses them
| with marked curtness and with an air
4 of hnslity that indicates a dcternina-
| ton on the part OF Secretary Lansing
word Of The United States Government
unless Austria makes change OF front.
Four Propositions Answered.
In reply to tho Austrian suggestion
that the Government of the United
states should precisely specify the act
ual circumstances Of the affair upon
which II bases its case" the United
states points to the official statement
of the Austrian admiralty admitting
that the vessel was torpedoed when her
engines were stopped and while pas
senSers we're on board. The note adds
This admission alone is. in the view
OF the Government OF the United States,
sufficient 10 fix responsibility"
| Austria's complaint that the Cnited