Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-12-06
Language of the President.

states OF America. etc,
Language of the President.
The President has asked for the dec
laration that a state of war exists
against Austria-Hunsary.
IN his address delivered at the Joint
session of the two houses of Congress
on December 4 he uses this language:
"'One very embarrassing obstacle
that stands in our way is that We are
at war with Germany but not with her
allies. I. therefore. very earnestly rec
ommend that the Congress Immediately
declare the United States in a state OF
war with Austria Hungary.
THE accompanying resolution carries
out this recommendation of the Presi-
dent
VOWED very little readjustment of the
affairs between the United States and
Austria Hungary. because a state of
war which this declaration declares TO
exist, actually has been fact for many
months. The depredations. on. American
lives and rights by Austrian naval
forces has been small compared with
that of Germany. but they have been
INDUCED in to an extent to constitute
war upon this country, and this fact.
taken in connection with other acts
of Austria Hungary. has more and
more brought that government into a
position where the American people
have realized that she must be inclnd-
ed with Germany as an enemy.
Activities of Austrian ambassador
and consu1s:
Implicated in Strikes.
I'm September, 1915. it was discovered
that Amba ssador Dumba and Austrian
consuis in St Louis and elsewhere were
implicated in instigating strikes in
American manufacturing plants en-.
gagged in the production of munitions
of war. An American citizen named
Archibald, travelling under an American
passport. had been intrusted with dis
patches in regard to this matter from
Dumba and. Bernstorr to their govern
ments.
BY reason Of the admitted purpose and
intent of Dumba to conspire to cripple
business industries in the United
States, and by reason of the fragrant
violation Of diplomatic propriety In
employing an American citizen protect
ed by an American passport as a secret
bearer of official dispatches through
the lines of an enemy of Austrfa-Hun-
gary. the Austro-H Hungarian govern
ment was requested to recall Dumba.
The Austrian consuls at St. Louis and
New York were implicated with Dumba
in these transactions. particularly In
the circulation of strike propaganda.
They were implicated in procuring
ing home.
Long before the above activities
were made public our government had
and consular service was being used
In this country for Germany's warlike
purposes.
"Austria's position as to submarine
warfare:
For Ruthless Warfare.
while Austria's submarine warfare
has been Of a very limited character
they have adopted and adhered to the
policy OF the ruthless submarine war
fare of the imperial German govern
ment
After diplomatic relations with Ger
many had been broken, the department
on February II, 1917, dispatched the
following telegram to the American
embassy at Vienna, surveying briefly
the position Of the Austrian govern
ment on submarine warfare:
In the American note of December |
8, 1915, to the Austro- Hungarian gov
eminent in the Ancona case, this gov |
of the government OF the United States |
on the operations OF submarines in |
naval warfare which had been ex-
pressed in no uncertain terms to the
full knowledge on the part of the
Austro-Hungartan. government was pre-
"In its reply Of December is. 1915.
tuc lmpcIidl anu IOyAl
stated that it was not possessed with au-
thentio' knowledge Of all the pertinent
correspondence Of the United States, nor
was 1t Of the opinion that such knowl-
edge would be sufficient to cover the
Ancona case, which was of essentially
= different character from those under
discussion with the Berlin government.
, Austrian Statement.
nevertheless, IN reply to the Ameri-
can note of December 10, 1915, the Aus
tro-Hungarian government. in its note
of December 20, stated:
AS concerns the principle expressed
In the very esteemed note that hostile
private ships. in SO far as they do not
nee or offer resistance, may not be de-
stroyed without the persons on board
having been placed IN safety, the i'm
pertal and royal government is able
substantially to assent to this view Of
the Washington cabinet
Moreover. in the case of the Persia,