Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1917-03-14
AUSTRIAN REPLY
DEFIANT TO i. s
Vienna Government Backs Berlin
in U-Boat War.
ALL ARMED SHIPS PIRATES
Note to America Says Assurances in
the Aneona Case Will Be Kept,
But With Certain Res
erVations.

London, March S.-The American
ambassador at Vienna has been hand
ed the reply Of the Austrian govern
ment to the American note inquiring
as to the position of the Austrian gov
eminent in regard to unrestricted sub
marine warfare, according to "A Vienna
dispatch received on Tuesday.
The reply declares that neutrals are
responsible for losses they suffer BY
entering territory where warlike 81
erations are taking place.
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 AustrO-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 themsel, es all losses they
suffer by entering territory where war
like operations are taking place.
After lengthy discussion Of the
British blockade, which it declares is
Illegal, the memorandum continues !:
The principle that neutrals should en-
joy in wartime the advantages Of the
freedom of the seas refers only to neu-
tral vessels and not to neutral persons
aboard enemy vessels
The reply further contends that bel
Iigerents are entitled to decide for
themselves what measure should be
taken against an enemy in sea traffic,
and concludes:
In such cases neutralS have no otl.
er legitimate interests, and therefore
no other legal claim than that bel
ligerent inform them in time of pro-
hibition directed to an enemy, so that
they can avoid intrusting their lives
and their goods to enemy vessels
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
tenuon to the fact that at the time of
the Ancona incident 4 stated that it
reserved he right to bring up later
for discussion difficult interpational
questions which arise in connection
with submarine warfare" The memo
randum then adds
If 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 Americansoysrn-
ment that now, as heretofore, it strict
Is adheres to the assurance already
given and eudeavors, 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 Ausuo-Hungarian government
can positively concur in the principle
that enemy private vessels, SO far as
they do not fire or offer resistance,
shall not be destroyed before the per
sons aboard are secured"