The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-04-09
Austria Hungary Sewers Rela-
tiOns With United States.
American Minister at Bern Also
Notifies Washington.
TURKEY and BULGARIA STICK
Expect Austria to Follow 1t
With War Resolution.
U. s. May Take No RetaliatOry
Action Against Austria.

Washington, April 9.-Austria-H Hun
, gary, under the pressure of Germany
has severed diplomatic relations with
the United States.
Baron Erich Zweidinek, chard daft
faires of the Austro- Hungarian en-
bassy here called at the state depart
ment today and asked for passports
for himself and the embassy staff
Almost at the same time a dispatch
wa sreceived from American Minister
StoVall at Bern saying the dual man
archy had broken off diplomatic rela-
tions with the United States in Vienna
yesterday 1t is presumed this was
done by handing passports to Ameri-
can Charge Grew, Ambassador Pen
field, who had left Vienna on Saturday,
probably did not know of the govern
ment's action.
BY Encouragement Spain will take
over the diplomatic and consular in
terests of the United States in Austria
Hungary.
All Agents VIII Leave United States
All Austrian consular agents will
depart from the United States with the
diplomatic mission, as was the case
with Germany
Up to the time Charge Zwiedinek
ton had been taken by Bulgaria and
Turkey Germany, two other allies, and
their representatives here disclaimed
having any knowledge of the intention
of their governments. 1t is expected
here they will follow by breaking dip
Iomatic relations Austria'S s break with
the United States undoubtedly is the
prelude to a declaration of state of
war.
Sixty-two days elapsed between the
F.1ir, hot he
States and Germany and the formal
declaration of a state of war. How
many days will elapse before Ger
manys chief ally enters a state of war
with Germany's newest enemy will be
decided entirely by circumstances. The
diplomatic history of civilization and
the precedents of centuries show a
state of war invariably follows a break
in diplomatic relations between first
class powers.
Continued Friendship Impossible.
Quite a side from this, Austria has
subscribed, even if only academically,
to Germanys campaign of ruthless
ness, altho she has not carried it out
against American interests Beside
that, it is considered that it would be
impossible to have abroad in the Unit
ed States on a friendly status the dip
1omatic and consular agents of Ger
manys ally.
Anti-American propaganda con-
Quoted by Austrian agents under Ger
man direction has been no less Of
fensive and scarcely less effective than
the German propaganda itself. A
clean break between the United States
ana Austria was some time ago recog-
nized as the logical development 1t
is possible, however, that there may
not be warlike operations between the
forces of the two governments unless
Germany carrying further her domin-
alton of the Vienna government should
force it.
Charge Grew at Vienna also will
turn over to Spain, British and Jap
anese interest which this country has
looked after since the beginning of the
war. Italian French and Rumanian
interest in Austria Hungary previously
looked after by the United States We're
ordered turned over to the Swiss min
lister. American ambassador ministers
and consular officers in France, Great
Britain, Russia and Serbia, Japan
Greece, Morocco and Egypt will stand
ready to turn over Austrian interests
which the United States has repre-
sented in those countries since the be-
ginning of the war to whatever nation
the Austrian foreign office shall in
dicate.
Cared for 1000, 900 War Prisoners.
= The United States by the break in
relations is released of the care of
probably 100000 war prisoners In
TNuSSld dlOuS II Is tnat l.
250, 900 Austrian prisoners were under
American protection with a consid-
cradle number in France also. In Aus
tria the United States had cared for all
the Italian Rumanian prisoners. Other
small groups are thought to bring the
total well up to 100000.
About 200 native Americans are
thought to be now in Austria and Hun
gary, with perhaps another 1900 nat
uralized Austro-Americans, most of
whom may prefer to stay in their
country of birth. Officials here ex-
pect no difficulty to be placed before
Americans in Austria and that all the
American embassy officials will be
permitted to leave without restraint or
inconvenience, owing to the decidedly
friendly feeling that Austria has
shown despite German pressure
Has staff of so in L. s.
Austria has in this country about
fifty consular officers in addition to
her regular embassy staff, not includ-
ing clerks. attaches and families Safe
conduct for all will be arranged at
cnce, and it is possible that the Aus
trians dismissed at this time may join
the German officials dismissed from