Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-04-10
DEPARTMENTS Statement


The departments statement follows:
ION March 18th the department inform
ed the American ambassador in Vienna
that this government was sincerely desir-
Gus of maintaining friendly relations with
Austria-Hungary, and in order to accom-
plsh this would be willing to go as far
as il properly could.
"In recapitulating the whole question
for Ambassador Penteld's guidance in
his discussion Of the matter with the Aus
trian foreign office the department pointed
out that the Austrian note Of Jan. 31st
declaring almost the same submarine
danger zone as was declared by Germany
was received on the same day that Count
Tarnowski arrived in Washington; that it
had been explained to Count Tarnowski
that this government could not possibly
receive an ambassador from Austria and
at the same time dismiss the German am
bassador unless the Austro-Hungarial
government could rece3e from the position
taken in its submarine note: that Count
Tarnowsl<i had agreed and suggested the
opening Of conversations in the hope THAI
some solution might be found; that the
depa rtment had thereupon instructed MI
Penfeld to ask the Austro-Hunga7an
government for a reinstatement of Its po-
sition: that the Austrian reply, received
from, Vienna In telegram dated March
Q contained the following statement:
",The entire declaration is essentially
nothing less than q notification to the
effect that no merchant ship may navi-
acCnratnlV defined in
the declaration and that the
! Imperial and Royal government is, how
ever, unable to accept a responsibility
| for the possible loss of human life
which may, nevertht less. result from
! the destruction of armed ships encoun-
tered in the enclosed zones. Moreover,
| it may be remarked that Austro-Hun-
I Garian submarines are operating only
I In the Adriatic and in the Medtter-
| ranean and that therefore o prejudicing
/ of American interest by Austro-Hun-
| garian men of war is hardly to be fear
| ed that the kernal of the Austro-Hun-
| garian reinstatement was in those quo
/ tations because the Austro-Hungarian
! government upheld the principle set
/ forth in its note Of January 3lst at the
same time stating that the prejudicing
! of American interests by Austria Hun
gary was hardly to be feared; that the
/ Austrian reply was apparently driven
out officially in Vienna and thereby as
sured 4 definite character; that in view
4 Of this positive declaration this govern
4 ment could not receive Count Tarnowski
without exciting still further a public
/ opinion already highly aroused; that
/ the delicate position in which the Aus
\ ro-Hungacian government found itself
was fully appreciated, but public opin-
/ ion in the United States would not ap-
! prove the reception a this moment of
an Acknowledgements ambassador in
/ view of the fact the Austro-Hungarian
/ government has declared it's adherence
| to method of warfare prejudicing the
vital interests of the United States and
| which had already caused the death of
| more than zoo American citizens; that
all possible consideration had been
/ shown Count Tarnowski since his ar
rival: and that officials of the depart
! ment had received him Informally and
/ frankly discussed with him on several
! occasions the question of his reception.
| Ambassador Penfield was instructed to
say TO the minister of foreign affairs that
this government lamented the existing
situation and hoped that a way might be
found to eliminate the differences but tina,
we should be glad to receive any sug-
seStions which the minister of foreign
! affairs might have concerning the matter
if the Austro-Hungarian government con
sidered the situation impossible Of contin-
uance
Ambassador Penfelds reply Is dated
March a2d. In it he informs the depart
ment that be has endeavored to make the
minister of foreign affairs understand the
! differences of the situation in Washing
ton which the minister generally admit
ted. At the same time the minister said
that the Austro- Hungarian government
was confronted by increasing difficulties
The minister of foreign affairs expressed
the hope that his last note. transmitted
by the embassy to the department on
March ID. might make 1t possible for this
government to receive Count Tarnowski.
"On March 18th the department inform
ed Ambassador Penfeld that it desired to
consult with him on various matters In
connection with the present situation and
ton, entrusting In his absence the affairs
of the embassy to Mr.. Grew in the ca
pacity of charge 6'affaires ad interim
Mr. Penfield was further instructed to say
! TO the Austro- Hungarian minister Of for
eign affairs that IN view of the express
acceptance and avowal by the govern
ment of Austria-Hungary OF a. policy
which has led TO the breach Of relations
with Germany. the President Is unable to
its sincere regret to receive Count Tar
nowsky as ambassador.
Mr.. Penaeld was asked again to ex-
! press to the Austro-Hungarian minis
ter of foreign affairs this government
| deep regret that the government of
Austro-Hungary should have felt itself
obliged to join Germany in her sub.
marine policy. thus interrupting rele-
tions which we had hoped might remain