Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1917-03-13
AUSTRIAN REPLY
DEFIANT TO j. S.
Vienna Government Backs Berlin
in U-Boat War.
ALL ARMED SHIPS PIRATES
Note to America Says Assurances in
the Ancona Case VIII Be Kept,
But With Certain Res
erVatons

London, March THE American
ambassador at Vienna has been hand
ed the reply of the Austrian govern
as to the position of the Austrian gov
eminent in regard to unrestricted sub
marine warfare, according to Vienna
dispatch to Reuters by way of Amster-
dam.
The reply declares that neutrals are
responsible for losses they suffer by
entering territory where warlike OPP
erations are taking place.
The American note, which was dis
patched from Vienna on February IS,
asked specifically whether the Austrian
assurances given following the sinking
nullified.
The reply of Austria states that
promises made in previous notes con-
corning the warning to neutral vessels
do not apply to armed merchant ships,
which may be considered as pirates
and sunk accordingly.
The reply says that whatever atti-
tude the Washington cabinet may take
as to individual questions raised here, -
the AuStr0-Hungarian government is
essentially in accord with the Ameri-
can government in regard to the pro-
lection of neutrals against endanger-
| ing their lives" The memorandum
then maintains that neutral subjects
have to bear themselves all losses they
suffer by entering territory, where war
like operations. are taking place"
Only Neutral Ships safeguarded.
After a lengthy discussion of the
| British blockade, which it declares is
! illegal, the memorandum continues ::
1.-THE principle that neutrals should en-
| joy in war time the advantages of the
| freedom of the seas refers only to neu-
trail 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 traffic,
| and concludes:
''In such cases neutrals have no other
legitimate interests, and therefore no
other legal claim than that Il belliger-
ent inform them in time of prohibit
ton directed to an eenmy, so that they
| can avoid lntrusting their lives and
their goods to enemy vessels"
Adheres to Former Policy.
The Austrian memorandum referring
to the note on the AncOna case, says
that it strictly adheres to the assur-
ance already given"
At the same time Austria calls at
tentiOn 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
randum then adds:
eff the Austro-Hungarian govern
ment now refers to this reservation
and briefly discusses the question of
the sinking of the enemy vessels to
which that note refers it is guided by
a desire to show the American govern
ment that now, as heretofore, it strict
ly adheres to the assurance already
given and endeayors, by clearing up
that important question because it
touches the laws of humanity, to avoid
misunderstanding between the mon
archy and the American union"
The reply of the Austrian govern
ment to the second American note in
regard to the sinking of the Ancona
contained the following paragraph:
THE AuStro-Hungarian government
can positively concur in the principle
that enemy private vessels, so far as
they do not flee or offer resistance,
shall not be destroyed before the per-
sons aboard are secured"