The Washington herald., 1917-03-07
Dual Monarchy Sends Com
munication Backing
Up Germany.
KEEP OFF SEAS Is TREND
Minister Tarnowski May Get
His Passports as Result
of Communication.
PRESIDENT WILL NOT COMMENT
Members of Cabinet Admit Situation
Grave-Japanese Ambassador For
gets Stoicism in Excitement.

Austria Hungary. answering the Ameri-
can ''ultimatum'' OF recent date regarding
its pledges about U-boat warfare, prom
ises everything and nothing.
In a document of fully four thousand
words. the dual monarchy thoroughly
agrees and equally as thoroughly disa-
grees with President Wilson.
The tenor. form and length of the re-
ply. however. combine to make it an en-
phatic and evidently sincere plea fol
continued peace and friendship with the
United States that-so far as can be
foresen. it will weaken rather than
strengthen the possibility OF a diplomatic
break.
VIII Make No Immediate Reply.
Such at least was the view Of official
Washington last night after perusing the
Reuter- version OF the note as cabled to
this side from Vienna by way of London.
The State Department made 1t known
last night that no immediate reply to the
note would be forthcoming and that the
official text would not be published for
the present. This official text was laid
before the President last night.
Study of this version reveals the fol-
lowing main features. Austria Hungary
gives full Endorsement Of the German un-
restricted U-boat decree.
lndl
men are pirate vessels. but adds that
in spite Of this, her submarines have
been instructed. wherever possible" !"
to warn such vessels and to take ade-
quate care of human life.
Austria tells the United States she
has instructed her submarines 'if DOS
sible. to warn merchantmen encounter
ed in these areas and to bring into
safety the crews and passengers"
Must Take Responsibility.
Immediately after assuring the United
States that even in the barred zones
vessels will be warned and life will be
saved by Austrian submarines, the note
asserts that il human life Is lost after
all the Austro-Hungarian government
can take no responsibility
A great deal Of the note Is to all in
tents and purposes a plea of justification
simed both at convincing American read
ers of the necessity" OF full-f1edged U
boat warfare and at showing the people
at home that every possible argument
was being resorted to in an effort TO
avoid n break with the most powerful
nation not yet a party to the war.
Probably no man perused the note this
afternoon with as much tension as did
Count Tarnowski. .Austro-Hungarian am
bassadOr designate to the United States
There are many here who believe the
governments action toward him in the
near future will be the real reply to the
Austrian note. II the note is accepted,
it is believed it will shortly send word
to Count TarnOWski that he will be well
come.
Barred OF its entangling diplomatic
phraseology. the note says in effect
We stand by Germany in unrestricted
I-ooat warfare. but We will do our best
To sVoid loss of life and consequent fric-
ti"n with America
One Of the important points raised by
tin note is the Austrian contention that
n@Urals have no business on beIligerent
vessels. The freedom of the seas, tiw;
cOcCment asserts. refers only to neutral
vessels. not to neutral persons on board
emmy yesseI1'