New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-01-07
COnSuIS Fail to Get
New Evidence from
Survivors.
PENFIELD ASKS
VIENNA TO AID
President Assures Stone
Decision Will Satisfy
the Nation.
From The Tribune pare.l !

Washington, Jan. 6.-The admins
tration has changed it's mind, accord
ing to a high official Of the State
Department. and will not accept a
settlement Of the Ancona case until
it is satisfied either that the Persia
was not torpedoed or that the facts
cannot be determined. Until yes.er.
day the plan was TO settle the An
coma affair and accept Austrla's
assurances without waiting for the
facts in the Persia case. President
Wilson told several Senators who
called on him to-day hat his action
when finally decided on, would be
satisfactory 20 the American
people"
The decision to postpone accept
ance Of Austria's 5 last note reflects
a belief in administration circles
that the torpedoing of the Persia
may be held to weigh heavily
against the sincerity Of the Aus
trian government. although 1t Is
/ generally believed that no evidence
exists that the Persia was sunk by
a submarine. AfidaWts taken by
American consuls from survivors
are summarized in dispatches to the
State Department to-day. The only
evidence of the presence Of a sub
marine is the statement Of one Of
the Persia's officers that he saw
what he thought was the wake of a
torpedo. No submarine was seen at
any time.
Penfeld Makes Inquiry.
The State Department, however
is at least half-convinced that the
Persia was torpedoed and that the
submarine was Austrian. This Is
shown in the fact. learned to-day.
that Ambassador Penfeld's instruc-
tions were to inquire about the
sinking Of the Persia and TO ascer-
tain all the facts at the disposal OF
the Austrian Admiralty. No such
instructions have been sent to AM
bassadors Gerard and Morgenthau.
Should Austria plead ignorance
NJ the affair and leave the infer
ence that the Persia was sunk by a
mine. this government will have no
recourse but TO drop the case. 1t IS
believed. however, that the Vienna
government will acknowledge its
part in the attack. claiming that the
Persia forfeited her immunity by
carrying a gun.
This action would force the state
Department 70 decide on the propriety
of ,rming merchant vessels for de
fence. Up 20 this time II has studi-
ouslv avoided the question. announc-
ing tha, no decision would be rendered
until a case was presented. The de
rartment first began 70 think about
IL AZ the time the Hesperlan was sunk.
The Hcsperian carried gun, but as
the department was never satished
with the evidence OF submarine at
tack l. was able 20 dodge the ques-
tion of armament.
Nav Warn Allies Ships.
n is believed now. however. that
with the publicity given the issue
through the discussion Of the Persia
case. belligerent merchantmen will be
induced to abandon carrying armament
10 a great extent. Unless. therefore,
Tho Persia itself becomes subject
of controversy, the chances Of rais-
D. ing the armament question IN future
will be materially lessened
Various aspects Of the submarine
crisis probably will be discussed by
tho President and hi Cabinet to-mor-
row. The matter sl.3 Is expected 10
come I'D before the Senate Foreign
Relations Committee tomorrow. when
B II holds its first meeting Of the ses
sion. The committee discussion may
extend 10 the question Of submarine
warfare in general. the sinking OF the
Persia. tho Lusitania case and other
incidents of the European war IN
which Americans wero involved. Chair
man Stone said tonight he believed
the committee would map out a pro
gramme Of procedure with regard 70
all pending matt~rs. including treaties,
awaiting ratification and resolutions
regarding the European situation.
Ambassador Penield cabled to-day
that he had presented informally 20
. the Vienna Foreign Office the Ameri-
can governments request for any in
formation on the destruction Of the
Persia. and at the time OF filing MS
dispatch had received no reply.
American Consul Garrels at AleXan-
/ dria reported that the affidsvits he
/ has gathered from the Persia surviv-
/ ors gave no more proofs that sub
marine torpedoed the liner or regard
ing its nationality than were contained
his irst dispatches.
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