Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1917-04-10
Secretary Lansing Issues
Statement Regarding Incl
dents Preceding Break With
Government at Vienna,
AMBASSADOR COULD
NOT BE RECEIVED
KaiSer'S Ally Agreed Not to
Menace American Com
merce, but Declined to
Condemn Submarine War;
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Washington, April 9.-Austria-H Hun
gary, ranging herself unreservedly
with Germany, has severed diplomatic
ic relations with the United States,
precipitating a a'situation which gener-
ally is expected here to lead to war.
Baron Erich Zwiedinek, the Aus
tran charge. asked the state depart
ment today for passports for himself
his staff, and the Austrian consular
force in this country; and simultane-
ously American Minister Stovall re-
ported from Berne that Austria had
announced the break in relations to
the American embassy in Vienna yes
terday
Seize austrian Stiss.
immediately The treasury depart
ment ordered the seizure of all Aus
trian merchant ships in American
harbors. The Austrian crews were
taken off and sent to immigration
stations and American guards put on
board. The measure was explained as
purely one of precaution, but it is real
lied that it may be interpreted by
Austria as an act of war In SINH
lar situation after the break with Ger
many. no ships were seized until a
state of war had actually been de-
cared.
Turkey and Bulgaria Silent.
Whether Bulgaria and Turkey are
preparing to follow suit still is un-
known. but officials generally believe
that sooner or later they will do so.
Bulgarian Minister Panaretoff called
OIL Secretary Lansing late today to ask
if this government had any informa-
ton from Sofia, but was told none
had been received. Both Bulgaria
and Turkey are believed here to be
weary of the war, but German domi-
nation of the central Europe alliance
is expected to drive them, as it drove
Austria, to break with Germany's
new enemy,
Telegrams prepared week ago in
anticipation of todays development
have been sent to American diplo-
matte and consular officials abroad,
instructing them to wind up their con-
duct of entente interests in Austria,
and of Austrian interests in entente
countries Spain will take over
American interests in Austria and
Sweden will assume Austrian inter-
ests here.
Safe Conduct Sought.
Safe conducts for the former Aus
. trian officials on their trip home will
be sought at once from the British
and French governments. With them
will go Count Tarnowsk. the newly
appointed Austrian ambassador, who
arrived in New York on the day Ger
many announced her campaign of
ruthlessness, but whose credentials
President Wilson has refused to ac-
cept while negotiations proceeded to
develop how fully the Vienna govern
ment endorsed the submarine policy
of her ally.
In a statement tonight reviewing
these negotiations, the state depart
;nent revealed that on April l, before
President Wilson went before congress
to ask for q declaration of state OF
war with Germany, Austria served no
tice that such a declaration would
mean break between the Washing
ton and Vienna governments.
Although war with Austria is
thought to he a practical certainty
President Wilson is described as hav-
ing no intention of forcing it. The
belief is that the president will not ask
congress to declare a state of wal
unless some overt act against the
United States Is committed.
Officials assume that no obstacle
will be placed in the way of the de-
parture of the American embassy
staff, the 200 other native Americans
scattered throughout Austria ant
Hungary and such of the 1900 oil
more naturalized American citizens
who may care to leave.
The departments statement fol
lows.