Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1917-03-08
AUSTRIAN REPLY
DEFIANT To j. 8.
Vienna Government Backs Berlin
in U-Boat War.
ALL ARMED SHIPS PIRATES
Note to America Says Assurances in
the Ancona Case Will Be Kept,
But With Certain Res
erVations.

London, March 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 to Reuters by way of Amster-
dam
The reply declares that neutrals are
entering territory where warlike op-
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
of the Ancona and the Persia had been
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 Austro-Hungarian government is
essentially in accord with the Ameri-
0an 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 lengthy discussion of the
British blockade, which it declares is
illegal, the memorandum continues {:
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
Iigerents 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 belliger-
ent inform them in time of a prohibi-
ttOn directed to an eenmy, so that they
eau avoid ntrusting 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 ii strictly adheres to the assur-
ance already given
At tie same time Austria calls at
tention to the fact that at the time of
the Ancona incident it stated that 1t
PRESERVED the right to bring up later
for discussion difficult international
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 American govern
mem hat now, as heretofore it strict
~ adhcreS to the assurance already
given and endeavors, by clearing up
that important question because ii
touches HE laws Of humanity, to avoid
misunderstanding between the mon
archy aud 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-Hmgarian government
can positively concur in the principle
that enemy private vessels, go far as
they do not flee or offer resistance
shall not be destroyed before the per
sons aboard are secured"