New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1917-02-07
AUSTRIA DEFENDS
USE OF U-bOATS;
HOPES FOR PEACE
High Official Declares War With
United States Would
Be Calamity
SUBMARINE CAMPAIGN
TO PRESERVE NATION
No Indication, During Interview, That
Vienna Government Will Step Back
One Inch from Stand Taken by Ger
many-New Measures Described AS
Being in Self Defense, Not Aggres-


Vienna, via Berlin and via wireless
to the Associated Press via Sayville,
February. Tn an interview given
by high government official today
to the Associated Press shortly after
the receipt Of the news that diplomatic
relations between Germany and the
United States had been severed the
following statement was made.
Eve had hoped that the American
government would take different
view of our situation especially since
we had waited more than a year be-
fore a decision on the question was
reached which was entirely cour-
tesy on our part toward the United
States.
During that, time we had enter
tanned the hope that it would never
be necessary to give the submarine its
full effectiveness, although we long
ago had been convinced of such effec-
tiveness.
when President Wilson finally de-
clared himself in behalf of peace we
sighed in relief because we hoped
the entente, after turning down our
offer, would not dare step before the
world with program which, from
start to finish, was nothing but a
declaration that the entente was con-
tinuing the war for conquest. Our
peace offer was made despite the fact
that we were holding every military
advantage. We took this action be-
cause our war was one Of self-de-
Tense. | The entente refused to enter
tain our offer, leaving us no other
way than the one now adopted.
Maintain Hope for Peace.
eve hoped that the American pub
justified and we still see hope. believ-
ing this becausei we are sure that the
American people, If they were similar
ly cornered, would do the same in
self-defense. For this reason we are
not ready to abandon hope that peace
between the United States and Aus
tria-Hungary will be maintained.
1--WE still believe that President
Wilson's high aims are reconcile BILE
with our measures, because this meas
ure is necessary if Austria-Hungary's
people are not to pass under the
rule of governments which in their
last note shed the last rag Of decency
and proclaimed themselves as promo
tiers of a war of conquest. There is
no reason why even a single Ameri-
can should look upon the extension
of our sea war as hostile act de-
clared against his country, for that is
far from our intentions.
1--WE are not giving our submarines
their greatest application because of
a design to conquer or subdue or to
harm American interests, but solely to
perform our God given duty to defend
ourselves and our lives through an
other avenue opened. We reached
our decision after months of delibera-
ton. The decision had to be reached
if our lives were to be realized to con-
tinue a free people if large parts of
the monarchy were not to fall under
Russian absolutiSm.
War with the United States, would
be calamity for all mankind because
such a war would place upon Ameri-
can people the same burden under
which Europe groans today, which
ultimately may mean the debasement
of the entire white race if carried to
the excess to which participation by
by the United States would undoubt-
euy lead.