El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1917-03-06
AUSTRIA WANTS
PEACE WITH j. 6.
Insists, However, General
Warning Is Enough for
Ship Passengers.

Ship Passengers.
&c make clear and definite statement
that these doubts may be solved
Discusses Entente's Methods
The Austro-H Hungarian government
may be allowed. first of all. to discuss
briefly the methods employed by the
entente powers in waginE submarine
warfare because they are the starting
point for the intensified submarine war
begun by AustroH Hungary and her al
lies and also throw a bright light upon
the attitude which the AustrO Hun
garisn government has taken hitherto
in regard to the questions which have
arisen.
When Great Britain Joined the war
against the central powers only a few
years had elapsed since that memorable
time when she. in union with other
states. began to lay the foundation at
The Hague for modern naval war law.
soon afterward the British govern
mint had assembled in Holland repre-
Sentatives of the great sea powers in
order 10 consolidate the further work
OF The Hague conference. especially in
the sense OF q just arrangement he
tween interested belligerents and neu-
trails These efforts aimed at nothing
less than the mutual esta blishment OF
principles of right which even in war
times should embody the principles OF
freedom of the seas and the safeguard
ing of the interests of neutrals-
'Neutrals We're not to enjoy these
benefits for long Hardly had the
United Kingdom decided to participate
in the war when. almost at once it be-
gan to break down the barriers which
the principles Of international law had
erected. While the central powers. in
the very beginning of the war, had de-
clared shat they would observe the
Declaration of London. which also bore
the signature of the British represen-
tative. Great Britain threw overheard
some of its important provisions In
an endeaVor to cut off the central
she enlarged, step by step. the list OF
contra band until nothing was missing
in the list of things which today men
want for their subsistence.
Proclaimed Illegal Blockade.
Then Great Britain proclaimed what
she called a blockade of the coasts OF
the North Sea, which form also an i'm
portant commerce route for AustrO-
Hnngarlans' IN order 10 prevent goods
which were still missing in the list OF
ccntraband from entering Germany and
in order to prevent all sea traffic BY
neutrals to those coasts as well as eX-
perts through neutrals
That this blockade was in fragrant
contradiction to the customary princi-
pies of the right Of blockade, as es-
tablished by international agreements.
vas explicitly declared by the presi-
dent OF the United States of America
in words which viii continue to live in
the history OF international law.
StrOve to Paralyze Central Powers.
BY the Illegal prevention of exports
from the central powers Great Britain
aimed at paralyzinR the countless fac
tories and works which the industrial
and highly developed peoples of cen
trail Europe had created and, by fore
ing workmen to be idle, to incite them
to rebellion.
Italy Committed Same Breaches.
When Austria-Hungary's southern
neighbor Joined the enemies of the cen
trail powers his first act was to declare I
as blockaded all coasts of the enemy. /
following of course. the example of his /
allies in ignoring all the legal rights /
In the creation of which Italy had
taken an active part a short time be- I
fore Austria-Hungaria did not neglect /
to inform neutral powers at once that /
the blockade was not legal
Teuons Finally Took Action.
For more than two years the cen I
after long and careful consideration Of .
pros and cons, did they begin TO return /
like for like and attack the enemy on I
the sea As the only ones Of the bel 4
ligerents who had done everything to 4
secure the existing treaties which were I
10 guarantee to neutrals the freedom /
)f the seas they felt with panied hearts
the Law of the hour which commanded /
them to violate this freedom.
But they took this step to fulfill the
paramount duty toward their peOpeIs
and from the conviction that 1t would
help the principle OF the freedom of
the seas to victory.
Would Restore Neutral Rights. !
The proclamations which they is
sued last January are apparently d. {
-ected only against the rights Of neu-
rails. In reality, they serve towards
he restoration Of these rights which
heir enemies have necessarily violated
and which. IL they were victors, they (
would destroy forever. Thus the sub
marines which are cruising around the
English coast announce 20 peoples who /
-eed the sea-and what people does not
want cOasts?-that the day is not far |
'ff when the flags. OF all states. in the
glory Of their newly won freedom. can
freely fly over the seas.
Hopes for L. :. Approval
we cherish the hope that this an
louncement will find an echo every
where neutral people live and that il !
will especially be understood by the
whose most illustriOus representative
las. during the war, defended with
tanning words the freedom of the seas
Is the highway of all nations.
IF the people and government Of !
he United States keep in mind that
he blockade proclaimed by Great Bril-
ain is not only meant TO wear down I
he central powers by starvation but
inns at subjecting the seas 10 her rule
n order to establish in this manner
Ter tyranny over all nations while
IN the other hand the blockade against
England and her allies only serves to
make these powers incline toward
'eace with honor and a guarantee to
III nations of the freedom Of sea traf-
lie and sea commerce and thereby
secured existence, then the question
which of the two parties has the right /
IN its side is already decided
Though the central powers have no
lesire in this war to beg for allies, !
hey believe that they will be entitled
o look to neutrals to appreciate their
.ffOrts to revise in the interest of all !
he principles Of international Law and
quail rights of nations
Replies TO Definite Questions
IN replying now to the question
'ut in the American note Of February
s the Austro- Hungarian government
firstly remarks that in the exchange
Il notes referring to the cases Of the
Ancona and the Persia IL restricted
tself to defining its attitude to con-
rete questions which individually
rJse, without laying down its funda-
mental legal conception
Adheres TO Previous Assurances
But in its note of October 10, 1915,
to the AncOna case, it re-
erved to itself the right to bring up
or discussion at a later date difficult
International questions which arise IN
OnnectiOn with submarine warfare. II