Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-01-04
SINKING OF PERSIA
MAY CAUSE ANOTHER
DIPLOMATIC CRISIS
State Department AnxiOuSIy
Awaiting Details of Sub
marine Attack With Possible
Loss of American Lives


WASHINGTON, Jan. 2.-Official
Washington tonight anxiously awaited
details of the torpedoing of the British
steamship Persia, on which American
citizens were known to have embarked.
While IL was realized that reports ex-
pected from consular and diplomatic
representatives might show that the sub
marine commander was justified In
sinking the vessel, officials were not
inclined to minimize the gravity of the
situation confronting the United States
should it develop that there has been
violation Of American rights. New dan
gers, It was admitted, threatened the re-
Lotions between the United States and
the central powers which seemingly had
Just been placed on the road to satisfac-
tory adjustment by the assurances con-
tanned in Austria's reply to the second
Ancona note.
VIENNA MAY HAVE TO EXPLAIN.
Should 1t develop that the submarine
was of Austrian nationality, as there
Is apparently ground for believing, the
Vienna government will be given every
opportunity to explain. Meantime the
state department desires that 1t be de-
termined definitely whether the Persia
tried to escape; whether the torpedo was
fired at her after or before she had
stopped; whether warning was given,
and whether the passengers had suffi-
cient time in which to leave the vessel.
Only two official dispatches concern
ing the sinking of the Persia were re-
ceived by the state department today.
These were from Consul General Skin
ner at London and the information they
contained virtually was identical with
that in press dispatches. Copies imme-
diately were transmitted to President
Wilson at Hot Springs, and the depart
ment dispatched requests for informa-
ton to United States representatives at
Alexandria, Egypt, and other points
where survivors might be landed or de-
tails of the attack might be available
from other sources.
One American citizen aboard the Per-
STA was Robert McNeely, of Monroe, N.
c., newly appointed consul at Alden. The
belief was expressed in official circles
tonight that had he escaped some report
would have been forwarded by him, as
more than two days had elapsed since
the vessel went down.
LANSINGS MIND OPEN.
In the absence of specific details Sec
rotary Lansing tonight declined to COM
ment upon the sinking of the Persia.
He made ii clear that until the nation
ality of the submarine had been def
nitely established and the circumstances
would be taken. He apparently was
viewing the situation with an open
mind.
1t was fealized that should an Aus
trian submarine have destroyed the yes
sci, the Vienna government might offer
the explanation that there had not been
sufficient time for new instructions con-
forming to the assurances contained in
the last Ancona note to reach subma-
rine commanders. 1t was pointed out
that this note was delivered to Ambas-
sador Penfield only Wednesday and that
the attack on the Persia occurred Thurs
day. Whether new instructions regard
ing submarine attacks went forth from
Vienna. coincidentally with the delivery
OF the note or at some previous time is
not known here.
Should such an explanation from VI
emma be accompanied with proper dis
avowal and provision for PREPARATION II
was considered likely that the United
States would accept it.
Officials of the state department are
not inclined to doubt the good faith OF
the assurances given by Austria In It's
last note.