The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1917-12-21
FEW RESTRICTIONS
PUT ON AUSTR|ANS
MOST OF THEM IN THIS COUNTRY
ARE LABoRERs AND LOYAL
TO ALLIED CAUSE.
UNNECESSARY TO REGISTER
Regulations for Registration of Ger
mans Will Be Issued Soon.-
Many Changes In Plan Have
Caused the Delay.

Washington, Dec. 13.-Austro-H Hun
garian 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 few restrictions
as a result of the war between the
lands of their birth and adoption.
In a proclamation declaring a state
of war with Austria-Hungary, Presi-
dent Wilson specified that unnatural
lied Observation-Disclosures, unlike the
Germans in this country, should be
free to live and travel anywhere.
They may not enter or leave the
United States, however, without per-
mission, and those suspected of enemy
activity may be interned.
Need Not Register.
They need not register with police
or postoffice officials, as Germans will
be required to do shortly, and are
not barred from the 100 yard zones,
about the piers, docks and warehouses
closed to Germans, and are not requir
ed to leave the District of Columbia.
The presidents motive in drawing
distinctions between Germans and
Austrians was described as two fold.
First, it was realized that the SYM
pathy of Hungarians, Rumanians,
Poles, Serbians, Czechs, Slavs and
other immigrants from the Austro-
Hungarian empire, generally is not
with the mother country in the war
and they have not been guilty of the
multi-form campaign of violence prac-
ticed under the German war system.
Secondo, such large proportion of
in munition and steel plants
subjects that it was found practically
to administer against them
the rigid regulations imposed on the
Germans. who are half az numefom
and more individuaiistic.
The department of justice even
abandoned It's former plans to regis
ter Austrians along with Germans be-
cause of the immensely Of the task
and the administrators determination
to minimize embarrassment to the
Austrians, thousands of whom have
demonstrated their loyalty to this
country by enlisting in the army and |
lavy.
Avoids Alien Enemy.
AS an indication of the presidents
Inference in feeling toward subjects
f the dual monarchy 1t was pointed
ut that nowhere in the proclama-
ion did he use the phrase "alien en-
mics" as was done in previous proc
amations referring to Germans. Re-
eatedly he referred only to natives,
itizens, denizens or subjects" of Aus
Since congress adopted the war res
luton the department of justice and
Their government departments have
cen besieged with anxious queries
rom big manufacturers and coal
perators employing many Austro-
hungarian laborers. Fear was ex-
ressed that with labor already in (
dequate for the war Industries any 4
rastic action against Austrian sub {
.cts would seriously hamper war pro-
uctiOn. These industrial leaders p,
ere told at first that the department
famed only to compel Austrians to
,gister. t
Within the last few days a number
Austrian subjects have been ar
,sted In the United States and held
n investigation to determine
neither they should be informed dur
g the war. The identity of these
en- and the extent of the roundup
rs not been made public by the de-
irtment of justice.
John Lord O'Brian, special assist
1t to the attorney general in charge
alien enemies, indicated that the t
gulations for registration of Ger b
ans would be issued late this week. 4
for multitude of admins
alive changes in the original plan i
I've caused the delay. b
ITO H0 gAIakgr anuIorInr h