Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-12-16
No Disav0Wal Is Made Of Act
and No Demands Of Wash
ington Are Treated.
CRITICIZE u. S. PAPER
Pick Flaws in Document
Prepared by Secretary
Discussion Is Open.

Washington Dec. t6.-Austria's re-
ply TO Secretary Lansing's note on the
Ancona is regarded, on the basis of
the unofficial reports received today
from London and Amsterdam, as who'll
" unsatisfactory. unacceptable and
Disappointing to the United States.
Diplomatic relations between the two
countries may safely be described as
standing at the breaking point.
President Silent.
President Wilson and Secretary
Lansing are reserviug comment until
they have the official translation and
text az hand. but it is stated author1-
tatiyely that the United States will
enter into no exchange Of opinions, as
the Vienna foreign Office is represent
ed as suggesting and absolutely will
decline TO discuss the facts Of the
torpedoing and Smelling of the Ancona
by an Austrian submarine with loss
Of American lives.
Await Official Word.
No official word had reached the
state department today that the Aus
trian reply had been delivered to
American Ambassador Penfleld, but
the news dispatches containing ex-
cerpts were taken In official quarters
as sufficient evidence that the rejoin-
er is on It's way 10 Washington.
From such part Of the unofficial
text as is contaiBed in the news dis
patches. officials consider the reply
vague in many respects, but they were
net prepared to decide whether that
was caused by translation or not.
TO Refuse Austro Request.
The suggestion for an exchange of
opinions, the virtual request for bill
Of particulars of the American COM
plant against the action of the subma-
rine commander and the proposal for
discussion of the facts were clearly
set forth however. in the unofficial
text and officials of the state depart
ment who have knowledge Of its pol
icy In the crisis unhesitatingly declar-
ed that all would be refused. 1t was
made clear that the United States does
not propose 10 enter into a diplomatic
discussion which would have POSSIBLE
tiles Of being prolonged almost in
definitely
Reply Disappointing.
The outline of the reply was disap-
pointing because some American off
clals had been led to believe by pre-
dictions from Germantc quarters that
It would be favorable or at least would
propose something which the United
States could accept.
As Secretary Lansing based the
representations in his note upon the
official statement Of the Austrian ad-
miralty itself. American officials are
alta loss 70 understand where there Is
much room fol discussion or dispute
Of facts.
News from Vienna recently that thu
submarine which sunk the Ancona was
missing led some officials to believe
that new element had been intro
ouced into the dispute. which hal
Promise Of carrying some weight
That point, however, seems to hav'
oeen disregarded In Austria's answer
50 lar as officials can Judge from TIL
unofficial text received here.
Ne Room for Farley.
American officials believed that TAX
ing as basis the official admission O
, tae Austrian admiralty that the An
coma was sheled, torpedoed and SUM
while passengers still were aboard
nere would be little room for discus
SION Of Secretary Lansing's conten
Aon that the commander violated tn
principles of international law ant
humanity and that it was ''wantol
slaughter Of defense1ess non-com
hatants."
Sever Relations.
onlcials pointed out today that
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