Arizona republican., 1917-04-17
REGRETTED THAT
 DIPLOMATIC BREAK
 SEEMED NECESSARY

From staff correspondent of the Associated Press formerly stationed in Vienna.
 BERNE, via Parls, April 16.-The Austro- Hungarian government up tC the last minute regretted what it con- sidered to be the necessity of sever ing diplomatic relations with the United States Although the Austro- Hungarian embassy at Washington ha6 been instructed to demand pass ports ill case congress declared war with Germany. the Vienna foreign office hoped that break could be avoided.
 It is remarkable that the departure from Vienna of the American ambas- sadore, Frederic c. Penfield, was not in any way directly connected with the steps the Austro- Hungarian gov- errment had taken for breaking re- 'ations with the United States. In the last week in March Ambassador Pcnfield had received from the state department a caDlegram that he should return to Washington to coun- sel with President Wilson regarding the European situation.
 Ambassador PenfielRs departure also was intended to eliminate the peculiar situation existing since Pres ident Wilson thought it inopportune to accept the credentials of Count Tarrowski, the recently appointed Austrian ambassador. The state de- partments intention was to leave the Vienna embassy in charge of Coun- sellor Joseph c. Grew. When Ambas- sador Penfield informed Count Czer- min, the foreign minister, of his in- tention of leaving Vienna, he was siven for the first time an intimation that the Eustro- Hungarian govern ment intended to break off diplomatic relations with Washington in case the United States entered into a state of war with Germany. The ambassador was Informed, however, that nothing woul6 be done pending the action or congress.
 MT. Penfield at first planned to leave Vienna April or 5, but was informedl that he would be received by the em- peror April ,. On the day appointed, the ambassador was received by the emperor but the same evening the re- port was current that MT. Penfield himself would be given his passports. The news appeared authentic to the ambassador, who, himself unwilling to investigate, asked the correspondent
 
 the report were true. The correspon- dent learned from the highest source that the Austro- Hungarian govern ment did not intend to hand the am- bassador his passports, even though congress declared a state of war and President Wilson signed the resolution. Thus the Associated Press became vir- tually the intermediary between the American embassy and the Austro- Hungarian government.
 The government made all needed ar engagements for the ambassadors de- parture, and to the last moment treated him as diplomat going on leave of absence. Two representatives of the foreign office were at the station to bid farewell to the ambassador and Mrs. Penfield, and in the name of the Austro- Hungarian government, pre- sented flowers and other gifts to Mrs. Penfield.
 The semi official Fremdenblatt on April 10 pointed out in a leader that, with diplomatic relations between Washington and Wanna intact and in tercourse between the embassy and the state department unchecked, certain military information likely to hurt Germany would reach the American government, and this was considered one reason why the severence of rela- tions became necessary
 To the very last, the Austro Hun garian government seemed loath to exert in any way control over Ameri- can diplomatic communications. MT, Grew, charge daffaires, was handed his passports on Easter Sunday at 2:1 o'clock in the afternoon, but the news was suppressed until the following Tuesday. The people of Vienna who had hoped to see a rupture avoided, accepted the announcement with the greatest calm. No demonstrations were made against Americans and the Austro- Hungarian authorities treated them with consideration, waiYing near ly all passport and baggage regula- tions.
 Tn Austro- Hungarian governmen; circles the rupture itself was not pop ular, according to the general belief. In the Hungarian diet the government was attacked by the opposition for hav- ing severed relations. but statement from the government quieted Premier n