OCR Text |
Show PROBLEMS RAISED BY DECLARATION OF WAR ON AUSTRIA TV -VSHINGTON, pec. 5. The status of several thousands of Poles. Hungarians. Bohemians and others owing allegiance to Austria-Huneary. who are serving m the American military forces, furnished an embarrassing complication to the preparations of the United States for a declaration of war with the dual empire. The problem is being discussed by Secretaries Sec-retaries Lansing and Baker and congressional congres-sional leaders with a view to legislative action. Upon passage of the war resolution by congress the Austro-Hungarian subjects would technically become enemy aliens, ineligible for service with the American colors. Also, under strict construction of international law, if they remained in American uniforms and were captured while bearing arms against the nation to which they legally owe allegiance they might be subject to execution for treason. Legislation either to confer American citizenship en hloc, or by name, or to except these men by special statute from statutes dealing with civilian enemy aliens, Is being considered. An obstacle to general action has heen found In the ohjection of army commanders command-ers to the presence in their ranks of any men whose loyalty may in the slightest degree be questioned, but some means will be found to guard against throwing out of the service thousands of good and loyal soldiers. The fact that Austrian subjects resident resi-dent in the United States become enemv aliens under the declaration of war will make no change in their status as employees em-ployees in many of the larpe industries working on government orders. It is believed be-lieved few will be discharged. A declaration declara-tion of war, it is held, changes their status but little. |