The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-09-16
Considers Request for Dumba
Recall Purely Personal.
Official Seeks to Minimize
Gravity of Situation.
FRIENDSHIP NOT IN DANGER
Carl w. Ackerman Get ReasSur-
ing Expression.
Statement Gives Washington
Hope of DisavOwaI.
BY CARLw. ACKERMAN.

Vienna Sept. 13.-(By courier to
Berlin, thence by way of The Hague,
Sept. 16.)-"Austria has not inter-
fered and will not interfere with in
ternal affairs in America. We are too
busy with European affairs to bother
with strikes in the United States. But,
whatever our inquiries show, we shall
consider the request for Ambassador
Dumba's recall purely personal. 1t
will not disturb friendly relations be-
tween the two countries"
This statement was made to me
today by foreign office official-one
of those who has determined the pol
icies of the monarchy He said he
America as explanatory of Austria's
attitude.
Austrians Taken by Surprise.
Whether a successor will be named
at Washington and how soon such an
appointment may be made has not
apparently has not yet recovered from
the first feeling of surprise. Dumba
was regarded highly here and officials
believed he stood extremely well in
Washington.
1--WE are awaiting Ambassador
Dumba's report" continued the for
eign office official. Until we hear
from him we shall take no steps. Be
fore judging the case we must have
our own representative report. We
hope and firmly believe that the whole
situation will be adjusted without the
least interference with cordial rela-
tions now existing between the two
countries"
In view of his statement that the
request for the recall of Dumba was
purely personal" the official was
asked if the question involved did not
also concern the attitude OF the Aus
trian government toward the instigat-
ing of strikes in America.
Too Busy at Home.
1--WE have too much to think about
on this side of the ocean without un-
dertaking to direct affairs on the 9TH
er side" was the emphatic reply.
"Just now we are awaiting a report
from Ambassador Dumba,'' he said.
There is no quick way of communi-
cation except the limited use of wire
less to Berlin. 1t is possible we may
be forced to await report by mail.
The one thing that may be said, how
ever, is that your Ambassador Pen
field dispatched a delicate duty with
the greatest tact"
The greatest reticence has been OBJ
served here about the Dumba affair.
The official quoted above is the only
one who would talk, explaining that
officials heretofore have been disin-
c1ined to talk because the government
had not been fully informed of the
request for Ambassador Dumba's re-
call
Though the foreign office official in
praising Ambassador Penfield for
having dispatched a delicate duty
with the greatest tact" merely indi-
Gated that the note requesting Dunn
ba's recall has been delivered, Penfield
himself refused to make any state
ment today about the notes arrival
or delivery. He said he acted only
as a messenger of the state depart
ment in this instance and believed it
proper for any statement to come
from the foreign office
Washington Takes Hope.
Washington, Sept. 16.-The admin
istration's hope for a disavowal of
Austrian Ambassador Dumba's pro-
posal to foment strikes among Aus
trians in American munition factories
were raised today by the United Press
dispatch from Correspondent Carl w.
saying the Austrian gov
ernment will not interfere with
Americas internal affairs.
Officials have been confident that, in
addition to recalling Dumba the Aus
trian government, after a clear un-
derstanding of his offense, would as
sure the United States that it has no
svmpathy with his plans