New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-02-19
Vienna Thinks Legislators
Will Restrain Wilson
from U-Boat Reprisal
FIRM IN PRINCIPLE,
BUT MIGHT MODIFY
Willing TO Receive Pro-
posals from United States
Respecting Blockade

Vienna, Feb. II (via London, Feb.
"1s).-Although some of the newspapers
are taking a gloomy view of Austro-
American relations and the situation
brought about by the severing OF rela-
tions between the United States and
Germany, official circles in Vienna are
inclined 10 believe that the situation
is not hopeless. This is also the view
of Frederic C. Penfield, the American
Ambassador. who is doing everything
possible to assist in reaching q friend
~ solution of the situation.
Persons with whom the correspond
emit has talked have laid great hopes
nm the American Congress. The belef
has been expressed by them that open
debate in Congress would lead TO an
understanding of the position OF the
Central Powers. Government circles
the press and the public put forth the
hone that such will be the case
The feeling is that, while the aus
tro-Hungarian government might con-
slider small notifications OF the ne"
blockade regulations, as Germany mas
done in the case of Holland, there is
not the slightest chance that it Will
Weld in the least, so far as the prin-
ciple involved is concerned. IL is sara
that the government IS ever reSay 10
listen TO some proposition from WASH
ington. provided, it does not anect IN
any form the submarine warfare as
il is directed against the EntenIe
states and the imports from heutrai
countries to these states.
Puts Faith in U-Boats
There seems to be no doubt that ohi-
eial circles and the entire public nave
\. come thoroughly reconciled TO the
stem the Dual Monarchy has taken
Jointly with Germany, and that the
Austro- Hungarian government has been
ready to accept all responsibility Tor
its attitude during the last two weeks
With the exception OF lew radicaI
Germanists, nobody has SHOWN mueh
bitterness here against the American
government though what has been
termed "the unfairness of Washing
tonD has resulted in much disappolnt-
ment. The public and the government
alike take the stand that President
Wilson has denied the Central Powers
the right of self-defence in deprlvlng
them OF the only effective weapon at
their disposal.
Much faith is placed in official and
other quarters on the presumption that
the United States would be unable 10
mt large army IN the field in a short
time and that the war in Europe VIII
be over before the military. strength
of the United States could be de-
veloped. Much comfort Is found by the
people generally in the reports CON
corning the activity of the submarines
the results of which everybody hopes
will be such that the Entente will be
compelled to entertain peace negotia-
tions before the United States would
be in a position to land large forces IN
Europe.
Signs of u. S. Friendliness
At this moment there are two indlea-
tions-though possibly they are OIL ut
tie weight-which permit OF the con-
clusion that Washington is not con
formulating an immediate break with
Austria Hungary. One is the transfer
10 the embassy here Of Joseph c. Grew,
former secretary of the embassy IN
Berlin, who arrived here tonight from
Switzerland 70 assume the duties OF
counsellor of the embassy, post which
is vacant owing to the illness of
Ulysses Grant Smith, who is now in the
United States.
The second indication arises from
the fact that Secretary Of State Lam
sing yesterday wired here on behalf of
various Hebrew charity organizations
the sum of S250,000, the amount hav-
5ps, been donated nv American Hebrew
societies. At the embassy the opinion
was expressed that the United States
government might not have trans
ferred this sum had a break between
Washington and Vienna been even
4o,t.4ivo1,y dacidad IN