The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-12-20
Every Bit AS Strong As First
One Dispatched to the Dual
Monarchy
ADMINISTRATION SEES
SITUATION IS CRAVE
Hope That Austria Will Ac.
cedc to American Demands
Appears Based on Possibility
OF Pressure By Germany

Washington, Dec. 19.-This govern.
ments second note to Austria on the
sinking Of the Ancona was cabled to
Vienna today.
Upon this communication depends
whether or not diplomatic relations
are to be continued with Austria
Hungary.
The United States has refused to dis
cuss the circumstances or the legality
OF the su bmarine attack, and has de.
chned 10 accede to Austria's request
for bill of particulars upon which
the original American demands were
= sed. As described by a high ad-
minstration official the note that has
been dispatched TO Vienna Is every
bit as strong as the first one adj
dressed to the dual monorchy.
This Is taken here to mean that
Austria must yield to the demands az
the United States or at least repudiate
the statement of her admiralty in re-
gard to the details of the Ancona sfnk-
ing II rupture with the United
States Is to be avoided
Pending the delivery of the note ~
Am bassador Penfield to the Austrian
foreign office. officials OF the State De-
partment refused to discuss it or u
confirm the fact that it had been dir
patched d
1t can be said authoritativeIy. hoW-
ever, tnat the American government
looks on the situation as grave ana
will await with considerable anxiety
Vienna's next move. Any hope that
exists in official circles that Austrfa
VII accede to the American demandx
seems to be based on the belief that
Germany will bring pressure on her
ally to affect an adjustment ON the
CO 1troversy.
Austria Can Avert Crisis. As
As washington views the situation.
there is one Ioophole through which
Austria may avert the crisis without
Immediately yielding to this govern
ments' demands This might be ac-
cepted. ii the foreign office at yienna
should find itself able to repudiate
the admiralty statement, which con-
firmed the American evidence that the
Ancona. while at standstili. WAS tor
peeoed and sunk with. passengers still
on board.
That statement by the Austrian adj
miralty Is the keynote on which the
United States rests its case against the
dual monarchy. As long as it stands
unrepudiated this government viii feel
1t has all the evidence necessary, and
that ii cannot enter into discussion
OF ether circumstances which are re-.
gatded as immeterial In this connec@
ton it was recalled that shortly boz
fore the first American note was din.
patched. Ambassador Penfiefd, who
had been instructed to obtain addt.g
tionai information in regard to the
sinking of the Ancona. cabled to Sec~
rotary Lansing that owing to the in.s
ability OF Austrian officials to COM
municate with the submarine Gem
mander. the foreign office desirAd
more time in which to get the informa-
ton desired. At the time the State
De .,artment was unable to understAn4
this request for delay. in view of the
fact that the admiralty statement was
supposed TO have been issued on the
basis OF a report from the commander.
May Submit IA Evidence.
II is now suggested that Austria, tn
her next reply. referring to her re-
quest for more time. may point pu&
that, having since obtained additionA1
data she is in position to say thai
the admiralty statement was inaccM$
rate. asSSM
should Austria in this way ofKeK
evidence to show that the submarines
commander did not violate internA~F
tional law. it is thought possible tha4
the American government might then
submit it's own evidence and thus pave
the way for discussion.
While 1t is conceded that Austr4N
might find it embarrassing to rcpudt~
ate its own original version Of the
attack, it is generally believed herA
that the authorities at Beriin AtF6
bringing strong pressure to hearsN@sS
Vienna to avoid a break. The sarm&f
Is said in press reports from Austr5AS
of the authorities in Hungary.
From the German standpoint. II NJ
suggested. the avoidance OF a break
between the United States and At1@v8
tria would be of importance, In view
of the still unsettled points respecting
the Lusitania controversy between
Washington and Berlin. Should I'll
break come between this country Rn0
Austria, Germany would be confront
ed with a similar prospect II she fai3e4
to hasten an adjustment Of the Laietx
tania dispute, requirement. which
severance OF diplomatic relations be-
tween the United States and Austrf9