Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1917-03-07
,s,.epIy to Note ot Washington
= g.. IT, Shi1s VIII Be Sunk if
>.,. - j Enter Waters of Pro-
s. ibed Zons.
MEUTRALS NOT PERMITTED
TO DEFINE WAR LAWS
England Is Blamed for II All.
Central Powers Are Fight
ing for ExistenCei Attacks
Unprovoked.
tsr MORNING JOURNAL SPECIAL LEASED wrssl


London, March 6.-~-The American
ambassador at Vienna has been
handed the reply of the Austrian
| government to the American note in
quiring as to the position of the AUS
TRAN government in regard to unrc.
! stricted submarine warfare, according
to a Vienna dispatch to Reuters -
way of Amsterdam.
The reply declares neutrals are re-
sponsible for losses they suffer by en-
tering territory where warlike opero-
ttons are taking place,
The American note, which was dis.
patched to Vienna on February Ia,
asked specifically whether the Aus.
trian assurances given following the
sinking Of the Ancona and the Per-
sia, had been nullified. The reply
says that whatever attitude the
washington government may take az
To individual questions raised here.
the Austrian government is essential
ly in accord with the American gov
ernment in regard to the protection of
heutrals against endangering their
lives The memorandum then main
tains that neutral subjects have 10
bear themselves all loses they suffer
by entering territory where warllke
operations are taking place"
British Blockade Illegal.
After lengthy discussion of the
British blockade, which 1t declares 10
Illegal. the memorandum continued:
THE principle that neutrals should
enjoy in war times the advantages OF
the freedom of tho s"as refers only to
neutral "oGss'r, aaS not 20 NJ atgals
aboard enemy vessels r
The reply further contends that bell
ligerents are entitlsd to decide for
themselves what measures should be
taken against an enemy in sea traffic
and concludes:
In such cases neutrals have no 9TH
er legitimate interest and therefore
no other legal claim than that a bell
! gerent inform them in time of pro-
hlbition directed % m enemy so that
they can avoid nNfr listing their lives
and their goods 10 enemy vessels"
Denies Responsibility.
The statement OF the American
embassy" say me replr. that the
armed British steamers 5 Srrundo, Uno
nj Welsh Prince were flrpedoel
Austro- 4 ungarian submarines
E'Nput warning Is orr uneous. (The
So undo and Uno are l'stod In marine
re 'ters as Norwegian yesse's) The
Austro- Hungarian g1vornment mean
while received Information that no
4 stro- Hungarian war vessels took
part in the sinkin~ of these steamers.
In the same rIanner as in the re-
'dtedly mention : circular note, tho
Austro- Hungarian gov"rnment--ard
herewith 1t come back - the ques-
tlon OF intenslfte bmar.ne warfare
as mentioned d. iIe be inning of
this aide memoiro and ais In its dec
Iaration Of Janu 81 of be current
year, issued " ng t. IL neutras
by fixing a cert" perio
Moreover, II whole i,-.iaration
represents in essenc, ,'"lng else but
q warning. namely. IL at merchant
men will be allowed to en- or the sea
areas exactly described in the decIar-
alton
To Warn Where Po .,ibie.
Moreover, the Austro- Hungarian
war vessels are instructed if possible
o warn merchantmen encountered In
hese areas and to bring into safety
he crews and passengers. The Aus
ro- hungarian government also pos
'eSSes numerous reports that crews
md passengers of vessels which have
lecn destroyed in these areas have
)een brought into safety.
For the eventual loss of human
ife which nevertheless should occur
n the destruction of armed vessels or
uch encountered in the barred zone.
he Austro- Hungarian government
an take no responsibility.
Moreover. 1t can be pointed out
hat Austro-H Hungarian submarines
N a
nd Mediterranean and that, there
ore. an encroachment of American
interests is hardly to be feared from
AuStro- Hungarian war vessels.
would Force Peace.
I'm view of everything mentioned
n the beginning of this aide memoiro
here need hardly be, an assurance
hat the barricading OF sea areas do
cribed in the declaration does not aim
t destruction of human life or even it's
ndangering. Hut apart from the
lgher aim of sparing further suffer.
1g to mankind by shortening the war
nd solely to place Great Britain and
er allies who, without an effective
lockade over the coasts of the cen
'al powers, prevent the sea traffic OF
eutrals with these powers, in the
anne isolation, the step is taken to
ender them by this pressure moro
liable towards peace which bears
l itself a guarantee and is durable
That Austria Hungary uses differ
Mt means is especially caused by cir
over which mankind has
o power. The Austro- Hungarian
overnment is convinced that 1t has
one everything in IT'S power to avoid
uman losses. 1t would attain this
i'm, which is intended by the central
overs, most quickly and most cer-
linly if in those sea areas no single
uman life were lost and no single
uman life were endangered.
summarizing the Austro- Hun.