AUSTRIA'S SOUL.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 285, 2 December 1933, Page 19

AUSTRIA'S SOUL.

THE NEW REGIME. HAS ITALY GIVEN ASSURANCE? : INTERVIEW WITH DR. DOLX-FUSS. (By a Special Correspondent.)' VIENNA, October 30. is the wrong term to apply to the new regime of Chancellor Dollfuss in Austria. The authoritarian Government on a corporative basis that le proposes will not necessarily be a copy of the Italian original, as it will most certainly not be modelled after Hitler theory or Hitlerite method. It will be a truly Austrian conception of the sort of State best fitted to Austrian needs, and Austrian statesmanship is now framing it constitutionally on those lines. And intolerance either of race or of religion will find no place in this new constitution or in the new Austrian State, for "a man's soul is more than his race." ' All this was made plain by the Chancellor himself in an interview with me. It was comparatively early in the morning, yet the Chancellor had been at work_ f°r hours. His daily labours are a standing refutation of the generally accepted theory that all Austrians take life easy and extract mostly leisure from it. "Domestically," Dr. Dollfuss said to me, "our whole position is stronger than it was. Our police and gendarmerie are not only loyal, but enthusiastic co-operators in our efforts. We have young men of the best class voluntarily offering their services as auxiliaries.

There is a feeling of greater security in Austria. You will have noticed we have been able to carry on our tourist activities undisturbed. Prepared For Contingencies. "As for the exterior situation, the sympahy for Austria felt by the Western Powers was plainly evident at. the World Economic Conference in London, and we have had demonstrations since of their interest in our position. "There remains only the difficulty of constant isolated attacks and threats from irresponsible elements in Germany. I believe these are designed chiefly for the encouragement of the Nazis in Austria. However, we are dealing with them, and will continue to defend ourselves against them." * "Do you expect an incursion from across the Bavarian border?" I asked the Chancellor. "I hope and am convinced that official Germany would not carry out any action of the kind," he replied. "But from what he knew of the foolishness and irresponsibility of certain elements in Bavaria, ihcluding the so-called Austrian region, encouraged as they are by violent radio propaganda, we must assume that such a development is unfortunately possible. I can only e-ay that'we are prepared to meet it." "On whom could you rely for help in such an eventuality—upon Italy?" The Chancellor considered the question carefullv. He probably knows that through official circles in Vienna there runs a story that on his visit to Riccione, Mussolini gave him a real reassurance. It is said to have been that while Italy was not interested in such childish annoyances as radio propaganda from Munich, nevertheless shOld this develop into armed aggression, whether from Bavaria or Bavarianinspired Austrian Nazis, that day Italy would befound standing beside France and Britain to defend, toy force if need he, Austrian independence and security.

But tliat he had even "heard this rumour tlio discreet Chancellor gave no sign. Ready For Reconciliation. "I can. go as far as to remind you that Italy is a State on Austria's borders, with a strong interest therefore in the maintenance of her territorial integrity, and' to hazard the prediction that in such an eventuality Germany would find' herself completely alone," he said. "Do you see any chance of reconciliation with Germany?" I asked Dr. Doll fuss. "We consider, the present attacks, particularly the radio propaganda carried on from Munich, as actually a sign of weakness," he replied unhesitatingly. "The time will come when the responsible authorities in Germany will find the situation in Austria' otherwise than has been represented in Bavaria. Since April this source has been predicting the imminent overthrow of my Government, but we are still in the saddle. For our part we are always ready for reconciliation." "You have spoken of the early creation in Austria of a corporative State on the Fascist model," he was reminded. "What sort of Fascism do you contemplate?" "Fascism is a had definition for Austria," answered the Chancellor. "We want, as I have already emphasised, an. authoritarian Government on a corporative basis. That is not, necessarily, what to many minds is connected' by Fascism." "Do you intend and hope to enlarge your new 'Fatherland Front' by the inclusion of the more moderate Socialists and National Socialists ?" New Attitude Towards Life. "You must understand that the Fatherland front is not to be an amalgamation of the old parties, but a new organisation that can be joined by the members of the old parties," replied the Chancellor, "It ia not a Coalition. There

are good prospects tliat many members of the old Socialist party, and perhaps later even of the National Socialist party, may join the new front." "General Goemboes, Prime Minister of Hungary, said in a speech in Budapest that Hungarian talk of a political union with Austria had found no response in Austria," I remarked- "How do you regard future relations between the two States 1" "Politically there should be the warmest friendship, economically the closest possible ■ relations," answered Dr. Dollfuss. "And finally, Hc-rr Chancellor, can you say anything that will dispel apprehension that Fascism in Austria might mean intolerance?" I asked him. "I can," replied the Chancellor earnestly. "I have said that what we wanted was a Christian German State on a corporative . basis with authoritarian leadership—a Christian State. For me as a Christian a man's soul 'is more important than his race. I regard Austria as a country of almost 7,000,000 souls. We must consider man's soul above.; all questions of race or nationality. "It is not a party fight thert is going on in Austria, but the creation of a new altitude towards life."— (N.A.N.A.)