New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-01-01

exact wording Of the apology IS be-
lieved 70 be the subject under discus
sion at present, and the State Depart
ment Is understood to be willing to &C
cept this settlement and leave the legal
question for settlement later. so long
as the German pledge OF safety for
Americans holds good.
One Of the mos, striking features OF
the situation here Today was the sur
prise caused by the Austrian note. Tho
change from the air of worry which
had been noticeable around the State
Department was remarkable. and off,
cials privately admitted that they had
not hoped for any such concessions, but
had been prepared for q note which
would have made break certain. The
political situation in Austria, it 10 be-
leved. makes It certain that the Vienna
government will have 20 face serious
criticism for yielding, and the loss of
the advantages Of the submarine war
fare as IL was being conducted in the
Mediterranean is admitted 10 be Sc
rious. Ii had not been believed that
Austria would set so high a value on
the friendship of the United States at
this time.
See Move on Britain.
One explanation suggested to-day was
that the Teutonic powers hoped 20 use
their compliance as weapon 70 force
this government TO more vigorous ef-
forts 70 relax the British blockade.
Information from Germany for some
time has been that the blockade was
having a very serious effect there. and
IL has been understood that Germany
would 90 20 considerable lengths to
weaken il In any way.
Compliance with the American de-
mands in the Ancona and Lusitanis
cases will make II possible for her rep
resentatives and partissns TO claim that
she has listened 10 American protests
and made concessions 10 American in
terests at considerable cost 70 herself,
while Britain has refused to do either.
There are already signs that serious
attack on the administration along tins
line will be made IN Conks ess, and II
Is admitted that the German course
will greatly strengthen this attack
Moreover, the administration has re
peatedly given IS a reason for the de-
Law In pressing tho British controversy
ting the two series Of controversies IN
volved. The clearing I'D Of the German
disputes will remove this danger.
II Is pointed out in many quarters
that the Ancona concessions, like those
IN the Arabic case, came when the ad-
ninistration had been forced into tax
ING stand from which It could not
possibly recede In the Arabic case
the outburst Of popular indignation
was so great that the German Amoss
sador believed the American public was
sbout 10 demand war with Germany,
and exerted himself vigorously 70 OBJ
tain from Berlin something that would
STAY the storm. He has frankly stated
since that he did not fear the American
military power so much as its financial
might. and that he did not believe any
POSSIBLE advantage 10 be won from the
submarine campaign was worth enlist
ing tho American Treasury under the
banners OF the Allies.
Firm Stand Was Needed.
In the Anoona case also the pressure
Of populgr disapproval of the admin
istratfon's course had become so great
that a firm stand became absolutely
necessary TO II. The greatest pains
were taken by officials 70 make sure
that Austria did not get the idea thai
home consumption" One high stare
Department official announced that It
would have the gravest consequences
# Austria failed 20 understand that the
United States will stand by its de-
mands 20 the limit"
TIE Austrian reply is declared By
students of diplomatic correspondence
20 be one Of the most skilfuIly draw
documents ever received at the state
Department. II carefully evades any
statement that could be considered
direct compliance with the american
demands or q plea of guilty TO the
American indictment, and yet II leaves
no ground on which the controversy
can be renewed. II gives broad state
ynent Of agreement with the principles
Of law and humanity on which this gov
ornment has insisted, without pledglhg
itself 10 them; it states that the oi1CeI
I'M command Of the submarine has been
punished, though not on the GROUNDS
on which the United States demanded
and u offers reparation, not as q Ilgh|
lut as a token of friendship.
The big flaw that stands out IN the
note Is that il is utterly out Of mar
monv with the Austrian policy IS
shown in the Mediterranean within the
last few DAYS. "The Austro- Hunga-
nan government" 10 says, "can posi-
tivelv concur in the principle that en-
onv private vessels, so far as they dc
not 1v or offer resistance, shall not be de-
stroyed before the persons aboard are
secured" Yet within ten days the y a.
saka Naru and the Vile de Ciotat have
been sunk without warning, and about
seventy non-combatants went down
with the latter vessel.
Gives Broader Pledge.
Taken by itself, without the com
nentarv which the facts offer, this
statement by Austria is far broader
concession than that given by Ger
many. The German pledge was limited
10 diners" while the Austrian takes IN
an classes Of vessels. In German cir
cles to-day this was explained as due
ia the fact that the German pledge
was intended TO cover war zone
where as a reprisal. outside interna-
tjonal law, all ships were 20 be SUM-
but where II was intended specifically
10 prevent injury 10 Americans. In the
Mediterranean, IL IS pointed out, no
var zone has been declared, and all
vessels come under the general rules
Of maritime war.
The Austrian note fully meets the
American indictment In his first note
Mr.. Lansing charged that the com
mander of the submarine violated the
principles Of international law ana OF
humanity by Smelling and torpedolng
the Ancona before the persons on
board had been put in place OF
safetv" In the second note the shell
ing charge was dropped, and the lndict-
roent based wholly on the Austrian Ad-