File No. 701.6311/267a
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Austria-Hungary ( Penfield)
1567. Count Tarnowski has expressed the desire to present his credentials to the President,1 and fears that his continued presence here in an unofficial capacity will be misunderstood by his Government. In view, however, of the Austrian submarine note of January 31, which is almost identical with the German submarine note of the same date, it must be obvious to the Austro-Hungarian Government that the United States can not sever relations with Germany and at the same time receive Count Tarnowski, unless the Austro-Hungarian Government alters its policy or at least assures this Government that the terms of its submarine policy will not be effective against American lives and commerce.
On February 15 Count Tarnowski transmitted to his Government through you the suggestion that Austria-Hungary announce that there are no Austrian submarines operating in the Atlantic and that the submarines operating in the Mediterranean will be confined to certain specified ports.
- This desire was expressed Feb. 3.↩