New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-12-17
Vienna Asks Proofs;
Upholds U-BOat Chief

London, Dec. 16.-The reply Of the
Hungarian government TO the
note from the United States OF the
sinking Of the Ancona was handed to
Frederick c. Penfeld. American Am
bassador in Vienna, on Tuesday. &C
cording TO Reuter- dispatch from
The correspondent quotes
from the reply as follows:
From the sharpness with which
the government Of the United States
believed il ought 20 censure the
commander Of the submarine and
from the Armness with which the
demands addressed TO the Austro-
Hungarian government appear to
have been brought forward, it could
be expected that the American gov
eminent would clearly give the
actual circumstances upon which 1t
relies. As can be easily recognized,
the representation of the eircum-
stances contained In the note allows
numerous doubts and gives not at
all sufficient reasons for blaming the
commander Of the submarine and the
Austro- Hungarian government. even
II the representation proves cor
rect in all points and judgment in
the case is based on the most rigor-
Gus legal Interpretation.
Vienna Asks Proofs.
The American government also
omitted to indicate the persons 70
whose statements it refers and to
whom IL apparently believes II must
attribute q higher degree OF trust.
worthiness than to q commander OF
the Imperial Royal Navy. q,
AS 70 the number, the names and
tho details concerning the fate OF the
american citizens who, in the critical
moment. were aboard the above men
toned steamer the note does not
give any explanation. But In view
Of the fact that the Washington CAB
met now has given positive deciara-
tion that at the above mentioned IN
cld.nt subjects Of the United States
came 10 grief. the Austro- Hungarian
government, in principle, Is prepared
70 enter into an exchange Of opinion
with the American government. Bnt
question Of why this government re-
Trained from juridically motivatlng
the demands stated IN its note with
regard 10 the special circumstance
of the discriminating incident. when
are especially pointed out by the
Aomerican government, and in the
place Of such motivation mentioned
an exchange Of correspondence when
II had with another government ABOUT
another affair.
The Austro- Hungarian government
ia the less able TO follow the WASH
ington Cabinet in this unusual att
tude as il in no way possesses
knowledge Of all the correspondence
having reference 70 1t, Inc Austro,
Hungarian government also Is not or
tho opinion that this knowledge couio
be sufficient for the present case
which. according to its own inIorma-
ton. is materially different from the
case or cases TO which the american
government apparently IS referring
Therefore the Austro- Hungarian gov
eminent must leave X 70 the WASH
iroton Cabinet to draw up the in
dividual legal msxirs which the com,
mander Of the submarine IS alleged
TO have violated when sinking the
Ancona.
The American government also
thought it advisable to point out the
altitude which the Berlin Cabinet in
the aforementioned exchange OF
correspondence had taken. In the
highly esteemed note the Austro-
Hungarian government finds no sup
port for this course. If the Amerl-
can government should have intend
cd thereby TO express an opinion as
If a precedent exists for the present
case, the Austro-Hungarisn govern
ment. in order 10 prevent misunder.
standings, must declare that II, OF
course, must preserve full liberty to
urge its own legal interpretations
during the discussion Of the Anoona
case