New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-02-21
Note Asks Bluntly II
Vienna Intends to Keep
Ancona Pledge
EMPEROR PERSONALLY
is TOLD OF MESSAGE
Foreign Minister Goes to
Ruler After Conference
with Penheld

London, Feb. 20.-Frederlc l. rem
field. American Ambassador at Vienna,
is said by Reuters Amsterdam CORE
spondent to have delivered to the Aus
tro-Hungarian Foreign Minister a re-
quest for clear and final definition Of
attitude regarding
submarine warfare.
The Amsterdam dispatch says that,
according to a telegram from Vienna
Mr.. Penfeld handed an aide memolre
to-day to the Foreign Minister, request
ing clear and final information as TO
what standpoint the Austro-Hungarlan
government has assumed regarding
submarine warfare, and whether the
assurances given on the occasion OF the
Ancona and Persia incidents are TO
regarded as changed or withdrawn.
The Foreign Ministry, the dispatch
saws. will submit the aide memoire to
a thorough examination and then make
a reply.
A Central News dispatch from Zurich
to-day says:
"The Austrian Emperor has given
long audience TO Count Czernin, the
Minister of Foreign Affairs, who
previously hau conference with Fred
eric c. Penfeld, the American Ambas-
sador."
Austrias Pledge Recalled
Following is the text of the Ameri-
can aSe memoire as forwarded by
Reuters Amsterdam correspondent:
in Note No. 4,167. of December 9,
1915, the American government laid
down the points of view whereby It
was guided regarding the activity OF
submarines in naval warfare. These
points of view were on an earlier &C.
casion clearly expressed 10 the German
government. and the United States gov
eminent was of the opinion that the
Austro- Hungarian government was &C
Quainted Herewith.
THE Austro-Hungarian government
replied with Note No. 5,735, of Deem
Der IA. 1915. wherein it declared it had
neither adequate knowledge of the ex-
change of ideas which had taken place
between the United States and Ger
many. nor was it of the opinion that
even complete knowledge would suffice
for judgment in regard TO the Ancona
incident, as the questions arising from
this incident bore q different character.
Nevertheless, the Austro- Hungarian
Foreign Ministry declared in Note No.
5949. of December 81, 1915:
"'As regards the principle set up in
the very esteemed note that enemy pri-
vate ships, provided they do not fee
or offer resistance, should not be de-
stroyed before the passengers are
placed in safety. the Austro- Hungarian
government is in a position to assent
in the main to this view of the Wash
! ington Cabinet
Persia Case Cited
Further. the Austro- Hungarian gov
eminent on the occasion of the sinking
of the steamer Persia, in January,
I 1916, declared that, although not IN
| formed regarding this incident, il
would be guided by the principles
whereto it agreed in the Ancona affair
| should events prove that responsibility
/ falls on Austria-Hungary in this mat
I ter.
simultaneously with the communi-
cation from the GFrman government
/ on the 10th Of January. 1916, the Aus
+ tro-Hungarian government declared
{ that every merchant ship which for
whatever purpose was armed with a
gun forfeits by this circumstance
( alone the character Of a peaceful YES
sci. and that in consideration Of these
circumstances the Austro- Hungarian
naval forces had received orders to
I treat such vessels as warships.
an conformity with this declaration
ships wherein were American citizens
we're sunk in the Mediterranean, pre-
/ euuablv by Austro- Hungarian subma-
rines. Some of these ships exam
ME. the English steamer Welsh Prince