The review., 1917-04-12
RANGES HERSELF, UNRESERVED-
~ ALONGSIDE HER ALLY in
GREAT STRUGGLE.
WAR DECLARATION EXPECTED
United States Seizes Austrian Mer-
chant Ships Interned Here.-Noth-
ing Has Been Heard From Turkey
and Bulgaria.

many, has severed diploma tic relations
with the United States, precipitating
situation which is expected here to
lead to war.
Baron Erich Zwiedinek, the Austrian
Charge, asked the State Department
for passports for himself, his staff and
| the Austrian Consular force in this
| country; and simultaneously American
Minister Stovall reported from Berne
that Austria had announced the break
in relations to the American Embassy
in Vienna.
Immediately the Treasury Depart
ment ordered the seizure of all Aus
trian merchant ships in American har-
bors. The Austrian crews were taken
off and sent to immigration stations
and American guards put on board.
The measure was explained as purely
one of police caution, but it is realized
that it may be interpreted by Austria
as an act of war. In similar situa-
tion after the break with Germany, no
ships were seized until a state of war
actually had been declared.
Whether Bulgaria and Turkey are
preparing to follow suit still is un-
known, but officials generally believe
that sooner or later they will do so.
Bulgarian Minister Panaretoff called
on Secretary Lansing to ask if this
Government had any information
from Sofia, but was told none had
been received. Both Bulgaria and
Turkey are believed here to be weary
of the war, but German domination
of the Central European alliance is
expected to drive them, as it drove
Austria, to a break with Germany's
new enemy.
Word Flashed Abroad.
kilograms prepared a week ago in
anticipation of the development, have
been sent to American diplomatic and
consular officials abroad instructing
them to wind up their conduct of En-
tente interests in Austria, and of Aus
train interests in Entente countries.
Spain will take over American inter-
ests in Austria and Sweden will as
sumo Austrian interests here.
Safe conduct for the former Aus
train officials on their trip home will
be sought at once from the British
and French Governments. With them
will go Count Tarnowski, the newly
appointed Austrian Ambassador, who
arrived at New York on the day Ger
many announced her campaign of
ruthlessnes, but whose credentials
President Wilson has refused to ac-
cept while negotiations proceeded to
develop how fully the Vienna Gov
ernment endorsed the submarine pol |
icy of her Ally.
In a statement reviewing these ne
gotiations, the State Department re-
vealed that on April 1, before Presi-
dent Wilson went before Congress to |
ask for declaration of a state of war
with Germany, Austria served notice
that such declaration would mean a
break between the Washington and
Vienna Governments. This notifica-
ton brought to an abrupt end the State
Departments efforts to dissuade the
Austrian Foreign Office from adhering
fully to the German submarine policy
Disposed to Be Tolerant
Although the full text of the COM
munication exchanged was not given
out, the Departments review disclos-
United States to tolerate Austria's
verbal endorsement of the German
policy, provided there" were no steps
for actual cooperation and no in
sistence that Count Tarnowski be re-
ceived by the President. On the part
of Austria, there was evident a desire
to maintain friendly relations, but an
increasing inability to do so because
of German pressure
Officials were without definite ad-
vices regarding arrangements for
of the Embassy staff at
Vienna and other Americans in the
dual Empire. Ambassador Penf1eld~
already is in Switzerland, having been
more than week ago to start
for Washington for personal discus
sion of the American negotiations. Tt
is assumed that no obstacles will be
placed in the way of the departure of
American Charge Grew, his staff the
200 other native Americans scattered
Austria and Hungary and
such of the 1900 or more naturalized
American citizens who care to leave.
Departing Austrians.
Baron Zwiedinek and other Austrian
officials in the United States probably
will go home on a Swedish or Nor
wegian passenger steamer. Definite
for their trip will be
made just as early as possible by
Swedish Minister Ekengren in con-
terence with State Department Off
cials. Mr.. Ekengren had not been
formally by his government
20 take over Austrian interests here.
but he expected his request for such !
to be granted within a ,
law hours