Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-12-13
PLACES CURB ON
AUSTR0.HUNGAR|ANS
Presidents War Proclamation
Provides Restrictions for
New Enemies Here.
AFFECTS MILLION PEOPLE.
Rules for Austrian Subjects, However,
Are By No Means So Stringent
as Those for Germans.

Washington, Dec. 12.-Austro- Hungarian
subjects In the United States. most Of the
million or more of whom are laborers
and are loyal to the allied war cause. will
suffer further restrictions as a result Of
war between the lands of their birth and
adoption.
In a proclamation to-day declaring a
state Of war with Austria Hungary in ac-
cordance with the act Of Congress. Presi-
dent Wilson specified that unnaturalized
Austro- -Hungarians. unlike the Germans
In this country, should be free to live and
travel anywhere. except that they may
not enter or leave the United States
without permission, and those suspected
Of enemy activity may be interned. They
need not register with police or postoffice
officials. as Germans will be required to
do shortly and are not barred from the
hundred yard zone about piers. docks and
warehouses closed to Germans. and are
not required to leave the District Of
Columbia.
The Presidents motive in drawing
distinctions between Germans and Aus
trians was described as two-fold
First, 1t was realized that the sympathy
Of Hungarians, Roumanians, Poles,
Serbians. Czechs. Slovaks and other
immigrants from the Austro- -Hungar-
ian empire, generally Is not with the
mother country in the war and they
have not been guilty Of the multiform
campaign of violence practiced under
the German war system. Secondly.
such a large proportion Of laborers in
munition and steel plants and coal
mines consists of Austrian subjects that
1t was found practically impossible to
administer against them the rigid reg
ulations imposed on the Germans. who
are not half as numerous and more in
dividualistic.
The department Of justice even
abandoned its former plans to register
Austrians along with Germans because
Of the immensity Of the task and the
| administrations determination to min
imize embarrassment to Austrians.
thousands of whom have demonstrated
their loyalty to this country by enlist
ing in the army and navy.
AS an indication of the Presidents s
difference in feeling toward subjects OF
the dual monarchy 1t was pointed out
that nowhere in the proclamation did
he use the phrase "alien enemies" as
was done in previous proclamations re-.
ferring to Germans. Repeatedly he re-
ferred only to natives. citizens, dent-
zens or subjects" of Austria Hungary.
ATTY. GENERALS EXPLANATION.
Attorney General Gregory explained
| the proclamation in this statement:
1.-The proclamation issued by the Presi-
dent to-day proclaims a state of war
existing between this country and Aus
! tria-Hungary. calls upon all citizens to
perform their duty. warns subjects of
the enemy to conform to our laws and
| enjoins upon American citizens the duty
| of treating subjects of the enemy, who
| remain loyal to the United States, with
all such friendliness as may be COM
patible with loyalty and allegiance to
the United States.
This proclamation differs from the
| preceding proclamation, relating to the
subjects Of the German empire. in while
| it authorizes the arrest and internment
| of any subjects of the dual empire, whose
conduct may be menace to the safety
Of the country. the only restrictions
which it contains are prohibitions against
either entering or leaving the United
States without first obtaining permission
| Many subjects of Austria Hungary
have already demonstrated their strong
loyalty to this country by their faith.
fulness in industrial work, their organi.
cation of recruiting committees and ir
service with our armies. For the pres
ent. therefore, no restrictions will bt
placed on the movements of the subject.
of Austria Hungary.
"They are not subject to the restric
tions Of the previously issued proclalna
tions relating to Germany enemy aliens
they will be permitted to reside ant
labor In prohibited areas and to trave
freely without molestation. Only thos,
who are dangerous or disloyal are sub
ject to arrest