Show i AUSTRIA ANSWERS i AMERICAN NOTE i A APPROVES PROVES UNRESTRICTED SUBMARINE SUBMARINE SUB SUB- MARINE WARFARE INAUGURATED BY GERMANY Declares That Neutrals are ResponSe i ible for Losses They Suffer byI by I Entering Territory Where War is In Progress London The The dor br at Vienna has berti ti handed the reply of the Austrian government to the American note inquiry as to the position of at the Austrian government In regard to unrestricted submarine warfare according to a Vienna dis dispatch dispatch dis- dis patch to Reuters Renters on March G 6 by way of Amsterdam The reply declares that neutrals are responsible for losses they suffer by entering territory where warlike operations op op- op aro are taking place The American note which was v dispatched dis dig patched to Vienna February 18 askIng asking ask ask- ing specifically whether the Austrian assurances given shen following the sinking sinking sink sink- ing of at the Ancona and the Persia had been nullified and the reply says that whatever attitude the Washington cabinet may take as to individual questions raised here the Austro- Austro Hungarian government is in m accord with the American government government govern govern- ment meat in regard to the protection of neutrals against endangering their lives The memorandum then maintains that neutral subjects have to bear themselves all Basses they suffer by entering territory y where warlike operations op op- op- op nm aro I o f k T Rights Held Supreme After a lengthy discussion of the i British blockade which it declares is illegal the memorandum continues The principle that neutrals should i enjoy enjo in war times the advantage of ot the freedom of at the seas refers only to 0 o neutral vessels and not to neutral persons aboard enemy vessels i The reply further contends that belligerents belligerents bel bel- are entitled to decide for themselves what measures should betaken betaken be beJA JA J taken against an enemy in sea traffic tic fic and concludes In such cases neutrals have no other ather legitimate Interests and therefore there there- tore fore no other legal claim than that a belligerent inform them in time of at a prohibition dIr directed 2 to an enemy enemy so that they can avoid entrusting their I lives and their goods to enemy ves yes sels d Adhere to to- Assurances I. I 1 An Austrian memorandum referring I to the note on the he Ancona caso case says it that it strictly adheres to tho the assur- assur nice ince already given At the same time Austria calls catIs attention attention at at- 4 to the fact that at the time of the Ancona incident It stated that it 5 reserved the right to bring up later for or discussion difficult international s. s questions which arise in connection I with submarine warfare The m memorandum memorandum memo memo- mo- mo then adds If It It the Hungarian Austro-Hungarian governs ment meat now refers to this reservation and md briefly discusses the question of I the sinking of enemy vessels to which 5 hat that note refers it is S guided by a delre desire de de- de- de sire lre to show the American government government govern govern- ment that now as heretofore it strictly adheres to fa the assurance already already al al- already al- al ready given giyen and endeavors by clearIng clearIng clear- clear Ing lug up that important question be because because e- e cause causo It touches the tho laws of humanity humanity human human- h ity to avoid misunderstanding be- be iween the monarchy and the American Ameri Amen I h can union I t The reply of at the Austrian government government govern govern- ment mont to the second American note in int t regard to the sinking of the tho Ancona contained the following paragraph The Hungarian Austro-Hungarian government can positively concur In the principle that enemy private vessels so far as they do not flee flee- or offer resistance shall not be destroyed before the persons persons per per- persons sons aboard are secured |