The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-03-07
AUSTRIA LAYS BL AME
ON ENGLAND BREAKING
DOWN LAWS BARRIERS
In Lengthy Note Seeks To Justify UBoat Warfare Declares
General Notice of Intent to Sink Takes Place of In
dividual Warning, and Says Armed Merchant
Are Really Pirate Ships-No I'm
mediate Diplomatic Break Probable

Washington. March 6.--Thc Aus
TRAN note. outlining the position of
the dual monarchy on the German
submarine campaign, will not cause
an immediate break between the
United States and Germans ally.
The state department tonight. after
receiving the Austrian communica-
ton, declared that no immediate re-
ply would be forthcoming, and that
the note would not imm ediatety be
made public. The note was laid be-
fore President Wilson tonight but
neither the president nor Secretary of
State Lansing had studied the docu-
ment, which was of great length.
closely, and it was stated that the ad-
ministration view Of the Austrian po-
sition had not yet been defaitely
formulated
Tone ConciIiators
state depa rtment officials. however.
pointed out that while the Austrian
note endorsed the German Csmr ai~n
OF rnthiessness, the tone of the com
mnni"ation Was conciliatory. noffi-
Cia) reports of the note show that
Austria recognizes the principle that
merchant ships must be warned be
fore an attack She holds however
that this warning may he conveyed
before the departure of merchant
ship from its home port or ever in a
general declaration of the intention Of
a helligerent While the United States
has sieadiastly refused to rcco~nize
any form of warning except hat
which would give the passenger and
crew OF an attacked vessel an oppor-
tunity TO escape just before the ship
Is destroyed. the Austrian note opens
up long range OF international ques-
tons. Whether the United S.atas will
~ +y. d =
questions IS a matter that the nresi-
dent must decide.
No preCipsta,c Action.
The reluctance II the United states
10 break with Austria has been np-
parent ever since the break with Ger
many Tonight il VAS stated THAI the
conciltatory note Of the Austrian ON
Wunicat}on indicates sim tlar rciucs-
aure on tho part OF the dual mon
archy II was considered certain that
the United states would NOT takc pre-
cipl'ate action in View "f this toiut
desire 10 eonttpne friendly relation.
The situation Is complicated rsuyy,
ever, by the fact that Count Tarnow-
SKI. the designated Austrian Il lhass-
'Iador. is stiil awaiting an opportunity
tn present his credentials 70 thts gov
cramcnf Tonight he mad been vat
ing for more thsn y month. AestrtN
has betrayed some Impotence u the
delay, aud the administration viii IN
douh'edly be forced TO make som" te-
ctsion IN the matter soon
The fact that the Austrian Nofe snc-
officially adheres to the assurances
given in :he Persia and Ahcoue tuci-
dents, after explaining It's views "a 10
warnings. led TO the belief thai The
administration would find some M ans
Of preventing an open break for the
present at least.
Reply Handed Z. =. ambassador.
London. March s---The Ame-i lean
ambassador at Vienna has been hanj
ed the reply OF the Austrian Rc"err-
ment To the American uctv inqu.ring
a. 10 the position Of the Austrian GOV
eminent IN regard to 0nceS.ri oted
submarine warfare, accordins 20 a
Vienna dispatch 10 Reuters bt way
of Amst"rda IA.
The reoly declares that ncutrHi~ are
responsible for los>r~ they sun 81 by
entering territory where varltkT op
%ra;ions are taking place.
The Austrian memorandum. rnter-
ring - tho note ou be An"oaa "ase.
says that II "strictly oihere~ &. M"
assurance already given,
a the same time Austria oaii4 at
tsntion TO the fact that al the time
OF The Ancona incident tt - tel that
il reserved the right (" bring nv later
for discussion difficnit international
questions which arise In connection
with submarine warfare"
Text OF Austrian Reply.
The text Of the Austrian reply Is
quoted as follows in later Vienna
dispatch TO Reuters:
From the memorandum OF Feoru
ary Is OF the American ambassador
ter has concluded that the Washing
ton cabinet. in view OF statements
made on February 10 Of last year and