AUSTRIA NOT HER OWN AGENT

War broke out with Germany in April, 1917, because of German attacks upon the property and lives of Americans on the high seas, and within our own country. Behind these immediate and intolerable grievances was the purpose of the United States to join with other nations in preventing the growth of a prodigious world power, which has shown its arrogant domination by brutal treatment of weak powers.

Germany is nominally one of four allies; but practically is the moving force in Bulgaria and Turkey, and particularly in Austria. No decision as to foreign relations or military movements is made by the Empire of Austria. That it has not declared war on the United States is not because of love for this country, but because those are the orders from Berlin. It is impossible to consider Austria at present as an independent nation, capable of forming relations according to its own judgment with other powers.

This applies also to Bulgaria and Turkey, but in two respects they are on a different footing from Austria. They are not actually garrisoned by German armies, and they have not exercised any acts of war toward this country. Bulgaria maintains its own army and form of government; so far as known, neither Bulgarian nor Turkish troops are operating north of the Danube. Turkey is evidently under German control, and the armies are undoubtedly directed by German officers. Nevertheless, both Bulgaria and Turkey have respected American lives and interests; many of the leading Bulgarian statesmen and officers were educated at Roberts College, Constantinople, by American teachers, speak English, and feel that the United States is their friend. The Turks have shown a remarkable courtesy to American missionaries and institutions. Through all the vicissitudes of the war they have permitted Roberts College and the American College for Girls to keep up their work of civilization.

On the other hand, the Austrians have made war on the United States in two definite and unforgivable ways: Austrian submarines have sunk American ships and taken the lives of Americans in the Mediterranean; and the Austrian ambassador, Dumba, and many of his subordinates, plotted against the peace, security and neutrality of the United States--right here on our own shores. There are hundreds of thousands of Austro-American citizens in the United States, who earn their living by honest work, and desire no trouble with anybody; most of them probably are Slavs and Hungarians who have no reason to love the Austrian Empire; they must accept the consequences of retaining their citizenship with a power which is at present in all essentials a military department of Germany, and Germany is the enemy of the United States and of real popular government everywhere