Mohave County miner., 1917-04-21
AUSTRIA NOT
BITTER TOWARD
UNITED STATES

the last minute regretted what it con
sidered to be the necessity of severing
diplomatic relations with the United
States. Although the attaches of the
Austro-Hungarian embassy at Wash
ington had been instructed to demand
their passports in case congress de-
cleared war against Germany, or e
state Of war with Germany, the
ma foreign office hoped that break
could be avoided.
1t is remarkable that the departure
from Vienna of the American ambas-
sador, Frederick C. Penfeld, was not
in any way directly connected with
the reasons of the Austro-Hungarian
government for breaking relations
with the United States. In the last
week in March Ambassador Penfeld
had received from the state depart
ment a cablegram instructing him
return to Washington to council with
president Wilson regarding the situa-
ton.
Ambassador Penfeld's departure
also was intended to eliminate the
peculiar situation existing since Pres
ident Wilson thought it inopportune
to accept the credentials of Count Tar
nowsky, recently appointed Austrian
ambassador. The state departments
intention was to leave Vienna embassy
in charge of Counsellor Joseph C.
Grew.
When Ambassador Penfield inform
ed Count Czernin, the foreign minis
ter, of his intention of leaving Vienna,
he was given for the first time an
intimation that the Austro-Hungarian
government intended to break off di-
plomatic relations with Washington in
case the United States entered into a
state of war with Germany. The am
bassador was informed, however, that
nothing would be done pending the
action of congress.
Mr.. Penfeld at first planned to leave
Vienna April or 5, but was informed
that he would be received by the en-
poror April 5. On the day appointed,
the ambassador was received by the
emperor but the same evening the re-
port was current that Mr.. Penfeld
himself would be given his passports.
The news appeared authentic to the
ambassador, who, himself unwilling to
investigate, asked the correspondent
of the Associated press to ascertain if
the report were true.
The correspondent learned from the
highest source that the Austro-Hun-
garian government did not intend to
hand the Ambassador his passports,
even though congress declared a state
of war and President Wilson signed
the resolution. Thus the Associated
Press became virtually the intermedi-
airy between the American embassy
and the Austro-Hungarian govern
ment.
The government made all needed ar
engagements for the ambassadors de-
parture, and to the last moment treat
ed him as a diplomat going on leave
of absence. Two representatives of
the foreign office were at the station
to bid farwel to the ambassador and
Mrs. Penfeld, and, in the name of the |
Austro-Hungarian government, pre-
sented flowers and other gifts to Mrs.
Penfeld.
The semi-offcial Fremdenblatt on
April 10 pointed out in a leader that,
with diplomatic relations between
and Vienna intact and in
tercourse between the embassy and
the state department unchecked, GER
tain military information likely to
lurt Germany would reach the Ameri-
IAN government and this is considered
one reason why the severance of re-
ations became necessary.
To the very last the Austro-Hun-
yarian government seemed loath to
Exert in any way control over Ameri-
an diplomatic communications. Mr..
Grew, charge d. affaires, was handed
lis passports on Easter Sunday at
.:15 o'clock. in the afternoon, but the
Jews was suppressed until the follow
ng Tuesday. The people of Vienna
Who had hoped to see a rupture avoid
ID received the announcement with the
great calmness. There was No demon
tration against Americans and the
Austro-Hungarian authorities treated
hem with consideration, waving near
y all passport and baggage regula-
ions. In Austro-Hungarian govern
nent circles, the rupture itself was n,
popular, according to the general be-
ief. In the Hungarian diet the gov ,
rnment was attacked by the opposi- ;
ion for having severed relations, but y