NAZI RULE IN AUSTRIA

Evening Star, Issue 22913, 22 March 1938, Page 9

NAZI RULE IN AUSTRIA

RELENTLESS PURGE CONTINUES WORKING TO CAREFULLY PREPARED PLANS Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright LONDON, March 21. “ The purge of Austria continues with relentless speed,” says the Vienna correspondent of the ‘ News Chronicle.’ “The Nazis are working to carefullyprepared plans, and they control every movement, organisation, institution, and dub. Jewish school teachers, who are an important group in Vienna, have all been dismissed and Nazi teachers, who were previously expelled owing to their illegal activities, have been reinstated. Government and' municipal employees have been allowed till April 10 to prove their German blood.’* COMMISSAR APPOINTED REAL RULER OF AUSTRIA. BERLIN, March 21. Herr Hitler has appointed Herr Wilhelm Keppler, ono of the economic advisers to the Reich, as Commissar for Austria. He will thus be the real ruler of Austria, and Dr Inquart will be his subordinate, ensuring that control of Austrian affairs will be in the hands of Germans closely associated with Herr Hitler.

EXPULSION OF JOURNALIST ORDER WITHDRAWN. VIENNA, March 21. The Germans withdrew the expulsion order against Mr Gedye, the newspaper correspondent. He was given a partial explanation of the incident, which was tantamount to somebody having blundered in a sudden abnormal emergency. THE RUSSIAN PROPOSAL STATEMENT BY MR CHAMBERLAIN, (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, March 21. (Received March 22, at 11.30 a.m.) Questioned in the House of Commons on the Government’s attitude 5 to the proposal by the Russian Foreign Minister that a conference of the major Powers be held to discuss the German annexation of Austria, Mr Chamberlain said the Government was giving consideration to the proposal. He was not, however, prepared to anticipate his general statement with regard to issues arising from the present situation. Mr Chamberlain stated that the Bri- ' tish Government had kept the United States Government generally informed of its attitude to recent events in Europe. GERMAN NOTE TO LEAGUE SOVEREIGN STATE CEASES TO EXIST. GENEVA, March 21. (Received March 22, at 12.5 p.m.) A Note from the German Government informs the League that Austria as a sovereign State has ceased to exist.

THE PLEBISCITE CAMPAIGN VIENNA, March 21. (Received March 22, at 8 a.m.) Herr Buerckel inaugurates the plebiscite campaign on March 24 with an announcement outlining the Nazi reconstruction campaign in Austria. DR SCHDSCHNIGG'S PLEBISCITE ALLEGED FORGED PAPERS FOUND. LONDON, March 21.: (Received March 22, at 8 a.m.) The Berlin correspondent of ‘ The Times ’ says, searching the offices of the Patriotic Front at Graz, the police found a large quantity of leaflets evidently intended for distribution after Dr Schuschnigg’s plebiscite announcing a 97 per cent, victory for Dr Sqhuschnigg, also envelopes containing five instead of one ballot paper. The German Press expresses indignation at this attempt to save the terrorist system by betrayal and forgery. " MORE BRUTAL THAN EVER PERSECUTION OF JEWS. LONDON, March 21. (Received March 22, at 1.30 p.xn.) The Geneva correspondent of ‘ The Times’ says that a communique issued by the Secretariat of the World Jewish Congress states that the persecution of Jews in Austria is even more brutal than the methods hitherto employed by tho Reich. The suicides during the first four days of the regime resulted in 140 interments in tho Jewish cemeteries. The offices of all the Jewish organisations were closed and all funds seized.