The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-12-18
In Case Of . Rupture Of Diplomatic
Intercourse.

In Case Of . Rupture Of Diplomatic
Intercourse.
The question here asked Is doubt.
less in many minds this morning:
ITO rHE EDITOR OF THE suN--Sr: Will
you kindly explain what the eevering
Of diplomats relations really means. or
rather what me effect OF such action ISL
I mean outside of the possibility Of war
following. 10 there any gain or loss 70
either side. and what would be the pos
sible loss to Austria, for instance. should
such a rupture occur? p. II. e.
"NEw YORK, December H."
In the present case the severance
Of diplomatic relations would mea
that this Government was no longer
on speaking terms with the Govern
ment Of Austria.H Hungary; that in
tercourse between the two Govern.
ments, formerly conducted directly,
would have to be either suspended
or circuitously managed through the
good Offices Of a third party, much as
in the case of belligerents.
From the point Of view Of Wash
ington the moral and sentimental sig
nlhcance of such a proceeding has
already been explained. Secretary
LANSING defined 1t when he reminded
Austria-H Hungary that the wanton
slaughter of neutral nOn-cOmbatants.
under conditions admitted by the
Austro-Hungarian Admiralty's state
ment. was an act which Is condemned
by the world as inhuman and bar
barous, and which, unless there shall
be disavOwal and reparation. is prop
erly destructive Of good relations be-
tween the two countries.
What our correspondent wants 10
know, however, Is not 10 much the
moral significance Of such action in
u own view and that Of the civil
lized neutral world MS Its practical
effect upon the Government and peo-
pie thus rehuked.
We reply that the practical effect
upon Austria would depend upon the
unpredictable course Of events follow
Ing the breaking Of diplomatic rela-
lions and on the methods by which
u Government gave concrete express
sion to its new attitude toward Aus.
tria-Hungary.
1t is useless to blink the fact that
the termination of diplomatic rela-
lions. while not necessarily leading
70 war. would greatly increase the
possibility Of actual hOstilities. In
case Of a repetition of the incident
which had been our reason for recall
Ing the American Ambassador and
sending hoI..e the representative Of
Austria-H Hungary nothing would be
left for us to do but to accept the
further outrage unless we were pre-
pared to proceed to physical acts OF
%belligerency in Furnishing 1t.
That contingency need not be dis
cussed. Short Of war, there might
follow the twelve months notice of
the termination Of the treaty Of 1920,
upon which rest our relations of amity
and reciprocity in matters Of COM
merce and navigation. This is a typi-
cal treaty defining the mutual rights
Of residence and trade and the mu-
tual guarantees Of security, prOtec-
zion and most favored nation priv
leges. Its comprehensive provisions
cover SO much of Austrian and Hun
and likewise so much OF American
interests in the territory Of the en-
pire, that the blessings Of its opera
ton and the continuity of Its exist
ence are taken for granted by almost
everybody, like the blessings and con-
tinued accessibility of the air We
breathe. Nevertheless, the treaty Is
a scrap Of paper which ran be legally
and honorably terminated at a years
notice. Whether the greater sufferer
by the termination of this contract OF
amity and mutual privileges would be
America or Austria-Hungary Is q
question for the students of immigra'
ton and trade statistics.
We have more than half n dozer
other treaties with Austria Hungar!
relating respectively to the dispose
of property, to consular jurisdiction
to e%Ntradition. 10 naturalization. Il
trade mark and copyright reciprocity
and to arbitration. None Of thest
amicablc agreements Is entirely con
sonant with a state of affairs IL
which II party has declined to con
tinue 10 recognize the other ns en-
titled to the benefits of good relation,
that rest upon n common regard TO
he principles of humanity.
"" are not suggesting that tn,
dtnunciHlion of our trcntirs will
Austria Hungary ought 10 follow
ruliur" Of diplomatic relations. W
~" only answering +; corrcspou,Icu
vii" inquiries whether there could b
.