The sun., 1917-12-13
PRESIDENT PUTS
AUSTRIANS ON
THEIR HONOR
Proclamation Defining Sta
tus Accompanies Formal
Declaration of War.
ARE LOYAL AS A WHOLE
Executive Points Out Their
Sympathy Has Not Been
With Mother Country.
ARE LOYAL AS A WHOLE
Special Dcspufch 10 TnE SuS.

WAsHiNGroN. Dec. 1?.-President Will
son issued a proclamation to-day declar-
ing that state OF war exists with Aus
tria-Hunsary. called upon all citizens TO
give loyal support TO the prosecution of
the war and defined the status Of all cit
liens of Austria Hungary within the
United States.
The proclamation reflects the attitude
Of the President toward Austria-Hun
gary as expressed in his recent address
to Congress. when he stated that war
10 necessary because a-Hungary
happens to be within the path Of Amer
ica's prosecution Of war on Germany. but
for the present at least Austrians and
Hungarians are given. pending misbe-
havior. q liberty Of movement seldom II
ever granted by a nation to citizens of
An enemy country.
The Presidents pronouncement Is per-
haps most impressively liberal In that
section in which he enjoins upon Ameri-
can citizens the .,uty OF treating sub
jects OF the enemy who remain loyal to
tho United States with all such friend
liness as may he compatible with loyalty
and allegiance to tho United States.
Reason for Distinction.
The Presidents motive in drawing dis
tinc.ions between Germans and Austro-
Hungarans was described as twofold.
First, II was realized that the sympathy
Of HungariaDs, Rumanians, Poles, Ser
bians. Czechs. Slovacs and other tmmi-
grants from the Austro-Hungarian EN-
pire generally Ia not with the mother
country in the war and they have not
been guilty Of the .multiform campaign
~
war system. Secondly. such large
proportion Of laborers in munltion and
steel plants and coal mines consists OF
Austrian subjects that II was found prac-
,ically impossible to administer AGAINST
them the rigid regulations imposed on
the Germans, who are not half as nu-
merous and more individualistic.
As an indication Of the Presidents
difference In feeling toward subjects Of
tho dual monarchy It was pointed out
that nowhere in the proclamation did he
use the phrase "alien enemies" as was
done In previous pseelaNstisns referring
to Germans. Repeatedly he referred
only to natives. citizens. denizens or
subjects" Of AustfiA-Huneary.
sweeping Powers ~ Neeessary.
The excellent record of the Austro-
Hungariens In their loyalty to the
United States up to the present as ex-
pressed In industrial work. In recruiting
and In army service has won for them
freedom from restrictions OF movement
enforced upon subjects OF Germany In
the United States. They will be per.
rnitted to live and work in the eo-called
enemy alien zones and will be permitted
to travel without molestation.
The proclamation. however, gives to
~ n>no ~ Iustica swcN0ing
powers In the enforcement Of any reGu-
iations which the safety Of the country
may demand There Is reason to be-
lieve that the watchfulness Of Federal
agents will he increased and that some
arrests and internments OF Austro-Hun-
garians will be recorded
For the present no Federal census Of
subjects OF the dual monarchy in this
country will be taken. Within short
time the Department Of Justice will be-
gin registering all Germans In the
| United States. Plans for this work
were held up awaiting expression Of the
Presidents attitude toward subjects Of
the nations latest enemy and with the
! issuing Of the proclamation Of to-day
steps were taken to begin the German
registration,
Mr.. GreEory's Explanation.
| In explanation OF the proclamation At
! torney- General Gregory issued this
! statement:
, '.The proclamation issued by the Presi-
dent to-day proclaims state OF war ex-
listing between this country and Austria
| Hungary, calls upon all citizens tn per
form their duty. warns subjects Of the
enemy to conform to our laws. and en-
Joins upon American citizens the duty OF
treating subjects OF the enemy who re-
main loyal to the United States with all