The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1917-04-10
Baron Zwiedinek Calls on
Lansing and Asks for
His Passports.
U. S. WARNED APRIL I
Vienna Then Said War
With Germany Meant
a Break.
EMPIRES SHIPS SEIZED
Wilson Will Wait for Dual
Monarchy to Declare
Hostilities.
EMPIRES SHIPS SEIZED

WASHINGTON. April 9.--Aus: ria Hum
gary. ranging herself unreservedly
with Germany. has severed diplomatic
relations with the United States, pre-.
cipitating situation which generally
Is expected here to lead to war.
Baron Erich Zwiedinek. the Austrian
Charge. asked the State Department
to-day for passports for himself, his
staff and the Austrian consular force
IN this country, and simultaneously
American Minister Stovall reported
from Berne that Austria had an
nounced the break in relations To the
American Embassy in Vienna yester-.
day.
Immediately the Treasury Department
oroered the seizure OF all Austrian mer-
chant ships in American harbors. The
austrian crews were taken Of and sert
10 immigration stations and American
guards put on board. The measure was
explained as purely one of police caution.
oot is realized that 1t may he interpreted
py austria as an act of war. In a.
similar situation after the break with
Germany. no ships were eeized until u
state OF war actually had been declared.
Turkey and Bulgaria..
Whether Bulgaria and Turkey arc PIE
pairing to follow suit stili is unknown.
hut ofncials generally believe that sooner
or later they will do so. Bulgarian Min
lister Panaretoff called on Secretary
Lansing late to-day 10 ask If this Gov
ernment had any information from Sofia.
Dur was told none had been received
Both Bulgaria and Turkey are believed
mere to be weary Of the war. but Ger
man domination g the Central European
alliance is expected TO drive them. as
II drove Austria, to a break with Ger
mary's new enemy.
Telegrams prepared d wee.; ago IN an
tlcipation OF to-dsy's development have
oeen sent 10 American diplomatic and
consular officials abroad ins,rlctiuy
them TO wind up their conduct Of En-
tente interests IN Austria and of Austrian
interests IN Entente couutric> Spain
VIII take over American interests In
Austria and Sweden will assume Aus
TRAN interests here
Safe conducts for the former Austrian
officials on their trip home will i've sought
At once from. the British and French
Governments With them will 20 Count
Tarnow Tarnowski. the newly appointed
Austrian Ambassador. who arrived !l
New York on the day Germany an
nounced her campaign OF rutnlessnees
but whose credentials President Wilson
mas refused 20 accept while negotiations
proceeded to develop how fully tho
Vienna Government indorsed the sub
marine policy of her aly.
Austria Served Notice.
n c n
atoms The State Department revealed to-
night that Oh April /. before Preside, q;
Wilson went before Congress to ask ror
declaration of a state OF war with Ger
many, Austria served notice .hat such =
declaration would mean break between
the Washington and Vienna govern
mcn,s. This notification brought an ab-
rupt end 10 the State Departmental cr-
forts 10 dissuade the Austrian Foreign
uhice from adhcr'ns fully TO the German
submarine policy.
Although war witt. AIstria ~ though.
now to DE ii practical certainty Pres,-
dent Wilson is described as having no
intention Of forcing H. Hc has taken
no steps formally 20 notify Congress OF
the break IN relations, but Il Is consId-
cred possible that something may be
done after tomorrow Cabinet mset!nE.
The belief IS that'the President VIII roe
ask Congress 10 declare state OF war
unless some overt act against the United
States ia committed.
officials were without definite advices
regarding arrangements for withdrawal
OF the embassy staff Mt Vienna and
other Americans IN the Dual Monarchy.
Ambassador Pcnfleld already is in
Switzerland, having been ordered more
than week ago TO start for Washing
ton for personal discussion of the Aus
trian negotiations II ia assumed that
no obstacles will be placed in the way
OF the departure of American Charge
d'Affaires Grew, his staff the 700 other
native Americans scattered throughout
Austria and Hungary and such of the
1900 or more naturalized American
citizens who may care TO leave Baron
Zwiedinek and the other Austrian ot-
ticials In tho United States probably
will 60 home on swedish or Nor-
wegiau passenger steamship,
Depnrtmrent's statement.
Tho State Departments statement fol.
lows:
"Oa March IS the Department .ns
formed the America Ambassador in
Vienna that this Government was sine
cerely dcs.gous OF maintaining friendly
relations with Austria-llungary, and In
order TO accomplish this would bc willing
10 go as far as IL properly could.
"In recap'tulating the whole question
tor Ambassador Penficlds guidance ia
his discussion of the matter with the
Austrian Foreign OnicG the Departments
pointed out that tho Austrian note OF
January 81. declaring almost the same
submarine danger zone az WAS declared
by Germany. was received on the same
day that Count Tarnowski arrived in
Washington that 4 had been explained
to Count Tarnowsh that this Govern.
nlent could not possibly receive an Am.
bassador from Austria aud at the same
time dismiss the German Amba assador
unless the Austro-Iiunlarian Govern>
ment could rccedr from the position
taken IN its submarine note that Count
Tarnowski had agreed and suggested thl
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