Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-12-07

garia; that Bulgarians were not fight
ing against American soldiers and that
this government had no reason to de-
clare war on her. The Turks he
stated, had committed no act of war
against the United States and should
be included in the resolution. The
statement that Bulgarians were not
fighting against Americans was chal-
lenged by Acting Republican Leader
Gillett who said he had information
he considered reliable, that Bulgarian
officers were fighting with the enemy
on the western front.
At the conclusion of Mr. Floods
statement the House adjourned until
tomorrow
Recital Of War Causes
The report of the committee begins
by stating the text of the war reso-
luton as perfected yesterday and then
goes on:
The President has asked for the
declaration that state Of war exists
against Austria Hungary
The accompanying resolution car
rles out this recommendation of the
President. The enactment of this dec
aration involves very little readjust-
ment Of the affairs between the United
States and Austria hungary because
state of war which this declaration
declares to exist actually has been a
fact for many months. The depreda-
tons on American lives by Austrian
naval forces has been small compared
with that of Germany, but they have
Deen INDUCED in to- an extent in con-
nectiOn with other acts of Austria
Hungary has more and more brought
that government into position where
the American people have realized that
she must be included with Germany
a 6 an enemy.
In September, 1915, it was discovered
that Ambassador Dumba and Austrian
consuis IN st Louis and elsewhere were
implicated in instigating strikes in Amer
lean manufacturing plants engaged IN
the production of munitions of war An
American citizen named Archibald travel
Ing under an American passport had
been entrusted with dispatches in regar,
t" this matter from Dumba and BernstorN
10 their governments. These acts were
admitted by Dumba, BY reason of the
admitted purpose and intent of Dumba o.
conspire to cripple business industries III
the United States and by reason of the
fragrant violation of diplomatic propriety
III employing an American citizen pro-
tected by an American passport as a Sc
Cret bearer of official dispatches through
the lines of an enemy of Austria Hungary
the Austro-Hungarian government was
requested to recall Dumba.
"The Austrian consuls at st. Louis and
New York were implicated with Dumpa
In these transactions. particularly in the
circulation of strike propaganda.
Long before the above activities were
made public our government had evidence
that the Austrian diplomatic and consular
service was being used in this country
for Germany's warlike purposes.
While Austrias submarine warfare has
have adopted and adhered to the policy OF
the ruthless submarine warfare OF the I'M
perial German government.
after diplomatic relations with Ger
many were broken the state department
ON Feb. II. 1917, dispatched c~e following
telegram TO the American embassy at vi
emma, surveying briefly the position Of the
Austrian government on submarine war
fare:
"In the American note Of Dec 6. 1915
to the Austro-Hungarian government IN
the Ancona case. this government called
attention to the views of the government
OF the United States on the opera tons or
submarines in naval warfare, which had
"A
been expressed in no uncertain terms TO
the ally Of Austria hungary ana OF wh1cE
full knowledge on the part of the Austro-
Hungarian government was Presumed.
In reply to the American note of
Dec -. l3l- concerning the An
coma case, the Austro-Hungarian gov
eminent. in its note Of Dec. 20. stat
ed:
AS concerns the principle express
ed in the Very esteemed note that hos
tile private ships insofar as they do
not fee or OFFER resistance may not
he destroyed without the persons on
board havin~ been placed in safety,
able substantially to assent To this
view OF the Washington cabinet
"MoTeovcr in the case of the Per
STA. the Austro-t hungarian government
i'll January 1916. stated in effect that
, While ii lad received no Informal
ton with regard to the sinking of the
Persia, We in cases it's responsibility
were involved, the government would
be guided by the principles agreed TO
in the AncUEa case
within one month thereafter the
imperial and royal government, coin
cidentlN with the German declaration
of Feb. 10, 1916 on the treatment of
armed merchantmen announced that
all merchant vessels armed with can
non for whatever purpose by this very
fact lose the character of peaceable
vessels and that under these condi-
tons orders have been given to Aus
tro-liungarian naval forces to treat
such ships as beligerent vessels
In accordance with this declaration
several vessels With .AmcriCans on
board HAY been sunk i'll the Medi-
terranean. presumably by Austrian
submarines, some of which We're tor
pedoed without warning by sub
marines tlyi the Austrian II, as in
the cases of the British steamers Sc
condo and Welsh Prince Inquiries
made through the American ambassa-
dor at Vienna as to these cases have
SO far elected no information and no