FORCE TRIUMPHS AGAIN.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 60, 12 March 1938, Page 8

FORCE TRIUMPHS AGAIN.

The Austrian Chancellor, after his interview with Herr Hitler, re-formed his Cabinet, giving the Nazis strong representation. Then, in an apparent endeavour to restore a semblance of unity to his country and strengthen the position of the new Government, he announced, at short notice, a national plebiscite. The terms of the affirmation which the people were to be invited to endorse appeared unexceptionable, but exception could rightly be taken to the voting proeedure proposed. Those who wished to vote "No" were to be required to ask for a separate paper. In doing so they would inevitably have- revealed their political sympathies, and the voting would have ceased to be secret. In addition, persons under 24 years were to be denied voting rights, and this was believed to be a device to exclude young Nazis. However, whether these methods were right or wrong, it was competent for the Government of an independent State to Order them. But it has been made brutally plain that in the eyes of her big neighbour Austria is no longer an independent State. Although the precise nature of events is-not clear at the time of writing, Dr. Schuschnigg has been j obliged not . only to abandon the plebiscite, i but to resign. "We yield to superior force," he told his people. The report that German troops have crossed the frontier is not confirmed, but there can be no doubt that Austria is in a dangerous turmoil* and probably the Chancellor's action was necessary to avert civil war. It is also probable that he could have controlled the situation but for his fear, and the Austrian Nazis' confident expectation, of German military intervention. Whether or not there was a technical "crossing of the frontier," the German threat was real, and it was decisive. Hen* Hitler has gained by force what he could ultimately have gained without it. The only certain consequence is an increase in the apprehensive tension of all Germany's weaker neighbours.