Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1917-03-09
AUSTRIA ANSWERS
AMERICAN NOTE
APPROVES UNRESTRICTED SUB
MARINE WARFARE INAUGUR-
ATED BY GERMANY.
Declares That HeutrsIs are Respons-
ible for Losses They Suffer by
Entering Territory Where War
is in Progress

London.-The American ambassar
dor at Vienna has been handed the
/ reply Of the Austrian government to
I the American note inquiry as to the
/ position OF the Austrian government
in regard to unrestricted submarine
( warfare, according to a Vienna dis
/ patch to Reuters on March s, by way
4 Of Amsterdam
The reply declares that neutraIs are
responsible for losses they suffer By
entering territory where wariike op-
erations are taking place.
/ The American note, which was dis
I patched 70 Vienna February IS, ask
/ ing specifically whether the Austrian
assurances given following the sink
| ing OF the Ancona and the Persia had
been nuIlifed and the reply says that
whatever attitude the Washington
cabinet may take as to individual
questions raised here" the Austro-
Hungarian government is essentially
in accord with the American govern
ment in regard to the protection Of
neutrals against endangering their
lives"
The memorandum then maintains
that neutral subjects have to bear
themselves all losses they suffer by
entering territory where Earlike op-
eratfons are taking place"
BeIIigerent Rights Held Supreme
After lengthy discussion of the
British blockade, which it declares is
Illegal, the memorandum continues:
THE principle that neUtrals should
enjoy in war times the advantage OF
The freedom OF the seas refers only
70 neutral vessels and not to neutral
persons aboard enemy vessels"
The reply further contends that bel
ligerents are entitled to decide for
themselves what measures should be
taken against an enemy in sea traf-
&c and concludes:
In such cases neutrals have no
other legitimate interests and there
fore no other legal claim than that a
oeIligerent inform them in time Of q
prohibition directed to an enemy so
hat they can avoid entrusting their
ives and their goods to enemy yes
sells"
Adhere TO Assurances.
An Austrian memorandum referring
% the note on the Ancona case says
hat it strictly adheres TO the assur-
ance already given"
At the same time Austria calls at
-ention to the fact that at the time of
The Ancona incident it stated that it
reserved the right to bring up later
FOR discussion difficult international
questions which arise in connection
With submarine warfare" The memo
-andum then adds:
IF the Austro-Hungari govern
nent now refers TO this reservation
md briefly discusses the question OF
he sinking OF enemy vessels TO which
hat note refers it is guided by de-
sire to show the American govern
ment that now, as heretofore, it
strictly adheres TO the assurance al
ready given and endeayors. By clear
ing up that important question, De-
cause it touches the laws OF human
ity, to avoid misunderstanding be-
tween the monarchy and the Ameri-
can union"
The reply OF the Austrian govern
ment 10 the second American note II
regard 10 the sinking OF the Ancona
contained the following paragraph:
The Austro-Hun garian government
can positively concur in the principle
that enemy private vessels. so far as
they do not fee or offer resistance,
shall not be destroyed before the per
sons aboard are secured