Middletown transcript., 1917-03-10
AUSTRIAN REPLY
LEAVES DOOR } Open
Answer to American Note as to
Armed Trade Ships.
BREAK May BE DELAYED
According To Her Declaration "Free.
dom OF the Seas" In War Time
"AppIies Only To Neutral YES
sells, Not To Neutral Persons.

sells, Not To Neutral Persons.
Washington.-Austria's reply to tn
American request for a clearer defini
ton of her attitude in the submarine
situation was stated officially here t,
leave the door open for further nego
tiations, delaying, temporarily at least
the break which h been regarded al
inevitable since tine severance of rela
tiOns between the United States an(
Germany.
Although in substance the long com
munication holds Ind defends the up
restricted warfare waged by Germany
1t is couched in most friendly terms
and points out that Austrian sub
marines solely are operating in the
Adriatic and the Mediterranean, anC
therefore an encroachment on Ameri
can interests hardly is to be feared.
There will be reply to this note, and
unless an overt act precipitates the
rupture both sides apparently earnest
ly desire to avoid, the United States
probably will not be inclined to force
the issue for the present.
Germany Forcing Austria.
The truth is that Germany is cred.
| tied with trying to force Austria to a
step which that country does not wish
to take. Germany naturally wishes.
1t is pointed out, to have the complete
moral support of her allies to the sub.
marine campaign and is using her
great influence with Austria to that
end.
This opinion is based not only on
dispatches from Ambassador Penfield,
at Vienna, but on the whole length and
spirit of the Austrian note.
Not Quite Clear.
Austria's attempt in the communi-
cation to distinguish between the
treatment which shall be accorded
neutral and enemy merchant shipping
Is regarded in various quarters as be-
ing somewhat similar to Germany's ef-
fort to establish safety zone" for
American liners between New York
and Falmouth.
Although the Austrian communica-
ton declares that there obviously is
no reason to allow different principles
for war on land and sea-" the position
of the United States is that different
principles actually do govern because
of different conditions, and the United
States has contended and the various
belligerents have during the course of
the war, virtually admitted that during
hostilities international law cannot be
changed without the consent of all the
nations involved.
Not To Armed Ships.
Another portion of the communica-
ton which undoubtedly will not meet
with the approval Of the United States
is that having to 40 with defensively
armed merchant ships. Austria's as
sertion that her previous assurances
did not apply to armed merchant YES
sells was received with some surprise.
The broad declaration that armed mer-
pirate vessels, which may be destroy
ed" regarded as being especially sig
nifcant in view of the intentions of
the United States regarding armament
for its merchant shipping.
Notwithstanding the perplexity Gre
ated in the minds of officials with a
portion of the Austrian argument the
extreme reluctance felt here for
break with Germany's chief ally and
the fact that Austria also does not
desire it, will assure the note a most
friendly reading and every effort will
be made to harmonize the relations of
the two governments if it can be done
without surrender by either.
Effect OF a Break.
Officials here have felt throughout
that break with Austria would serve
little purpose and do much harm.
Americas protest against Germany's
Illegal submarine warfare is thought
to have been fully enforced by a sew
erence of relations with that govern
ment.
A break with Austria probably
would be followed by one with Bull
garia and Turkey, jeopardizing Ameri.
can interests in those countries; would !
lead to many diplomatic re-adjust.
ments because Of the belligerents this /
country represents in Austria and ths |
Austrian interests represented else
where, and would endanger the million |
or more prisoners for whom this coun.
try has been caring, as well as cut off |
q line of communication from Berlin.