15 JANUARY 1916, Page 3

. The Austrian Government have tried to add humour, though

that is no doubt impossible, to the tragedy of assassination by

submarine. Through the United States they have appealed to the British Government to grant the request of certain Austrian subjects who are being repatriated from India that they should be protected from submarine attack during the voyage. That is to say, the Austrian Government request the British Navy to save a passenger vessel from German and Austrian crime. The humour of such a request disgusts rather than amuses, however; when one finds that the appeal is supported by the statement that the deported persons are of the "better class." Sir Edward Grey's answer is excellent. The only possible protection is for the enemy to cease to commit murder, and he is at a loss to know why "better-class people" should be thought specially entitled to protection.