REFUGEES FROM AUSTRIA

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22372, 8 April 1938, Page 13

REFUGEES FROM AUSTRIA

STATES IN FAVOUR OF ASSISTANCE

BRITAIN TO CO-OPERATE WITH U.S. (BRITISH OFFICIAL WIRELESS.) (Received April 7, 2 p.m.) RUGBY, April 6. The Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs (Mr R. A. Butler) answered several questions in the House of Commons about refugees from Austria. He said that 15 countries, namely, the Argentine, Belgium, Brazil, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Prance, Guatemala, Haiti, Mexico, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Peru, Salvador, Sweden, and Uruguay, had replied favourably to the United States invitation to concert the methods of providing assistance to political and Jewish refugees from Austria. It was part of the United States proposal that the financing of tb emergency emigration should be undertaken by private organisations in the respective countries. Mr Butler also said that the British Government would make the best possible use of this opportunity of co-operation with the United States. The British Government would naturally be sympathetic to any proposal for Jewish immigration into Madagascar, which had the approval of the French Government, but it did not contemplate approaching the French Government on the matter. Mr Butler said he hoped to make an early statement on the question of Austrian refugees receiving the protection of the League of Nations. The British Government was ready to do its part in such international action as was possible for dealing with the problem of refugees from Germany, but. it did not consider feasible any steps to secure for the racial minorities in Germany full civil liberties, either through direct negotiations or-through the machinery of the Leagur of Nations as suggested in the question. The Colonial Secretary (Mr W. Ormsby Gore), answering a question on a similar subject, said he had no information as to how many Jews from Vienna and other parts of Austria had landed in Palestine or any mandated territory since March 12, but the conditions of immigration into Palestine were well known and applied to Austrian Jews in the same way, as to Jews in other parts of the world

GERMAN ABSORPTION OF AUSTRIA

FORMAL RECOGNITION BY UNITED STATES VIENNA LEGATION REPLACED BY CONSULATE-GENERAL (Received April 7, 9.15 p.m.) WASHINGTON, April 7. The United States has formally recognised Germany’s absorption of Austria and notified Germany that it is holding her responsible for Austria’s debts. It is also announced that the United States Government will close its legation at Vienna and convert it into a consulate-general.

POLITICAL PRISONERS IN AUSTRIA

TRANSFER TO CONCENTRATION CAMP LONDON, April 6. The Vienna correspondent of the British United Press states that political prisoners who have been transferred from Vienna to the Dachau concentration camp are reported to include the burgomaster, the former .Vice-Chancellor, Herr Schmitz, General Zehner, Dr. Schuschnigg’s Defence Minister, two former Defence Ministers, Prince Schonburg-Hartcnstein, and General Vaugoin. It is • reported that the former President (Dr. Miklas) has left for an unknown destination. He was given the choice of three abodes 120 miles from Vienna.

GUARDS WITHDRAWN FROM HOUSE . I

DR. SCHUSCHMGG TO SPEND EASTER WITH SON (Received April 7, 5.5 p.m.) BERLIN, April 6. It is announced that the guards have been withdrawn from outside Dr. Schuschnigg’s house. Only a few detectives remain. Dr. Schuschnigg’s young son, who is at a Catholic school in Kalksburg, will probably spend Easter with his father.

GERMAN PROPAGANDA ON TRAINS

CZECHOSLOVAKIAN MINISTER’S OBJECTION (Received April 7, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, April 6. The Prague correspondent of the “Daily Telegraph” says that the Minister for Railways has asked the German State Railways to remove German propaganda from international trains. The windows of German trains crossing Czechoslovakian territory to Austria were recently pasted with a leaflet reading “One

People, One Reich, One Leader.” If the request is not observed, the Minister has ordered railway officials.to remove the propaganda themselves.

CATHOLIC FAITH IN AUSTRIA

CARDINAL INNITZER TALKS WITH POPE VATICAN CITY, April 6. Cardinal' Innitzer, who arrived from Vienna yesterday, accompanied by Cardinal Pacelli, the Papal Secretary of State, had an audience, which lasted for one hour 15 minutes, with the Pope. This is without precedent, as Cardinals and Bishops usually see the Pope alone. Before returning to Vienna Cardinal Innitzer made a statement that the Austrian Bishops’ declaration, in which they appealed to Roman Catholics to support Herr Hitler in the Austrian plebiscite, was obviously not intended to be an approval of that which was incompatible with the laws of God and the liberties and rights of the Church. The Austrian Episcopate demanded that all questions covered by the Concordat should not be modified without the Pope’s agreement. Parents must retain educational rights, and the Church must not be deprived of the right of propagating the faith and moral instruction among youths. Also, antireligious and anti-Church propaganda must be prohibited.

INDUCEMENT OFFERED TO VOTERS

VILLAGES TO HAVE SPECIAL CHARTER (Received April 7, 9 p.m.) LONDON, April 7. The Vienna correspondent of “The Times” says every town and village throughout Austria which votes 100 per cent, in favour of union at the plebiscite on Sunday will receive a special charter signed by Herr Hitler,