Evening star., 1917-04-10
President Not to Ask DeClara-
ton Until Overt Act Is
Committed.
BULGARIA AND TURKEY
MAY BREAK RELATIONS
Seizure of Ships May Be Regarded
as Act of Hostilities by the
Dual Monarchy.

day following the break in diplomatic
relations. President Wilson, however.
was believed to have no intention of
forcing it by asking Congress to de-
clare that a state of war exists unless
some overt act is committed. The
seizure of a number of Austrian ships
in American ports may be interpreted
as an act of war by Austria
Intentions of Bulgaria and Turkey
were not known today, but officials
generally believed they would break
relations eventually.
Arrangements for the departure of
Austrian embassy officials were being
made with the State Department today
by Swedish Minister Ekengren, who
VIII take over Austrian interests here.
Early official notice was expected con-
cerning plans for withdrawal of the
American embassy staff from Vienna.
Text of Austrian Note.
Austria's note to American Charge
Crew at Vienna severing diplomatic re-
latiops with the United States because
of this country's declaration of war
with Germany, and offering every facil-
ity for the return of American officials
in Austria, was made public at the
State Department today with an Of
fetal statement. as follows:
THE following dispatch. dated April
3, from the American charge d. affaires
Vienna, has been received by the De-
partment of State:
Minister for foreign affairs has just
informed me that the diplomatic rela-
tions between the United States and
Austria Hungary are broken, and has
handed me passports for myself and
the members of the embassy. He states
that We may leave the monarchy at our
convenience. and that every possible
courtesy will be extended. Am tele-
graphing consuls to arrange their af-
fairs and proceed to Vienna. with a
view to leaving for Switzerland, if pos
sible. at end of week."
Following is translation of text of
note handed me by minister.
Since the United States of America
has declared state of war exists be-
tween it and the imperial German gov
ernment, ,-Austria-H as allies of
the German empire, has decided to
break off the diplomatic relations with
the United States. and the imperial and
royal embassy at Washington has been
instructed to inform the Department
of State to that effect.
While regretting under these circum-
stances to see termination of the per-
eonal relations which he has had the
honor to hold with the charge d'affaires Of
the United States of America, the under
signed does not fail to place at the for
mer's disposal herewith the passport for
the departure from Austria Hungary of
himself and the other members of the
embassy
AT the same time the undersigned
avails himself of the opportunity to re-
new to the charge daffaires the ex-
preston of his most perfect considera-
ton.
tSigned) "'Czernin.'"
Was Warned of Possible Break.
A statement given out by the State
Department disclosed that ten days
ago Austria notified the United States
that a diplomatic break would occur
if the United States entered war with
Germany.
The departments statement follows:
''On March 1s the department inform
ed the American ambassador in Vienna
that this government was sincerely de-
sirous OF maintaining friendly rela-
tions with Austria Hungary, and in or
der to accomplish this would be willing
to go far it properly could
In recapitulating the whole question
for Ambassador Penfeld's guidance in
his discussion of the matter with the
Austrian foreign office the department
pointed out that the Austrian note of
January 81, declaring almost the same
submarine danger zone as was declared
by Germany, was received on the same
day that Count Tarnowski arrived in
Washington; that it had been explained
to Count TarnowSki that this govern
ment could not possibly receive an am
bassador from Austria and at the same
time dismiss the German amba ssador
unless the Austro-Hungarian govern
ment could recede from the position
taken on its submarine note: that Count
Tarnowski had agreed and suggeste
the opening of conversations in the
hope that some solution might be found
a ri me n had hpr
structed Mr.. Penfield TO ask the Austro-
Hungarian government for a restate-
ment of its position; that the Austrian
reply, received from Vienna in a tele-
gram. dated March 2. contained the fol.
lowing statements:
"The entire declaration is essentially
nothing less than a notificat tion to the
effect that no merchant ship may navi-
gate the sea zone accurately defined in
the declaration and that the
imperial and royal government is how
ever. unable TO accept responsibility
for the possible loss of human life
the destruction of armed ships encoun-
tered in the inclosed zones Moreover
it may be remarked that Austro-- Hun
garian submarines are operating only
In the Adriatic and in the Mediterra
mean. and that therefore a preludicine
of American interests by Austro- -Hunga.
rian men of war is hardly to be feared
that the kernel of the Austro-H -Hunga.
rian restatement was in those quota
tions because the Austro- Hungarian
government upheld the principle SCI
forth in it's note of January 81, at the
same time stating that the prejudicine
of American interests by Austro- Hun
gary was hardly to be feared; that the
Austrian reply was apparently giver
out officially in Vienna and thereby as
sumed a definite chara cter: that in view
of this positive declaration this gov
ernment could not receive Count Tar
nowski without exciting still further
public opinion already highly aroused
that the delicate position in which tn,
Austro-Hungarian government fount
itself was fully appreciated. but publ,
opinion in the United States would no
approve the reception at this momen
of an Austro Hungarian ambassador, il
view of the fact that the Austro-Hun
garian government has declared its ad
hereace to method of warfare preju
dicing the vital interests of the Unite,
States and which had already causes
tine death of more than 200 American
citizens: that all possible consideration
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