The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER TUESDAY, MARCH 21, 1916. AN IMPUDENT REQUEST.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIV, Issue 89, 21 March 1916, Page 4

The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER TUESDAY, MARCH 21, 1916. AN IMPUDENT REQUEST.

One of tlie most impudent acts of the war to date must be reckoned the request of the Austrian Government, through America, that certain courtesies and assistance should be rendered to the Austin-Hungarians forcibly repatriated from India and which went on to say that it would hold the British Government responsible for the safety of these people. Most of them, it was added, were “better class people.’"" In bis reply. Sir Edward Grey said he did not perceive why “better-class people” should bo thought more entitled to protection from submarine attack than any other non-combatants, and be expressed bis surprise that the Austrian Government, itself one of the authors of the danger from submarines, should jhave thought it seemly to make its request. He said that, no special pre--1 cautions would lie taken to save the Austrian passengers from the Austrian ! submarines, and be pointed out a fact [which the Austrian Government overlooked when it sent its ridiculous note: ‘.‘By asking for special precautions to protect one of their own subjects on board a British merchant vessel the Austro-Hungarian Government recognise what is the inevitable consequence of tlioij- submarine policy, and admit that the outrages by which the Lusitania, the Persia, and numbers of t other ships have been sunk without warning were not the result of casual brutalities of the officers of enemy submarines, but part of the settled and premeditated policy of the Governments whom they serve.” Sir Edward Grey, in further reply, now emphasises Britain’s attitude, and says that in view of the openly-announced intention of the Central Powers to resort to a more intense form of submarine warfare, Britain does not propose to take precautions on behalf of Austro-Hun-garians which that Government does not iftke on behalf of its own subjects

These humourless Huns arc hardly worth troubling to reply to, but Sir Edward Grey is always courteous and dignified oven in the lace of such impudence as the Austrian “protest” reallv is.