OFF THE MAP

Kaikoura Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 22, 17 March 1938, Page 2

OFF THE MAP

AUSTRIA’S MILLIONS ABSORBED IN GERMANY. VIENNA, Alarch 1 1. Austria, with her seven millions people, to-day came completely under German domination through a series of laws which wore rapidly promulgated. The first of these was a proclamation of the union of Austria and Germany, which accompanied the announcement that a plebiscite would he held. Later Herr Hitler, as Fuhrer and Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces further decreed the appointment of Herr Joseph Burckel, listrict loader in the Saar, to organise the Nazi Party in Austria and prepare for the plebiscite. Broadcasters are busy continually announcing fresh regulations, including a decision that only German nationals or Arvas henceforth are entitled to wear the swastika. Herr Hitler has admitted Herr von Papnn, formerly German Ambassador at Vienna, to the Nazi Party, bestowing the party’s gold medal upon him in recognition of his engineering of the Berchtesgaden meeting. This is the highest honour that can be paid in modern Germany. Herr Otto Steinhaeusel, formerly police chief, who was sentenced to seven years’ imprisonment for complicity in high treason in connection with the Austria revolt in 1934, has been appointed police president. It is officiallv stated that the Austrian President, Dr. Aliklas, resigned at the request of Dr. Inquart. His decision was almost a foregone conclusion owing to his support of Dr. Schusehnigg, the deposed Chancellor. Tt is stated that Herr Hitler delayed his entry into T T ienna owing to President Aliklas refusing to meet him. Austria ceased to he a nation.

NO ANNEXATION OF SWITZERLAND. ZURICH, March 14. The German Alinister (Dr. Kocher) visited the President (Al. Guiseppc ATotta) and referred to alarmist articles published in Swiss newspapers. He emphasised that there was no question of the annexation of Switzerland. On the contrary, Herr Hitler believed that Swiss inviolability was essential to European peace.

REAL GUARANTORS OF SECURITY. PRAGUE, Alarch 14. Herr F. Alachnik, the Czech Alinister for Defence, speaking at a meeting, declared: “Nobody thinks of threatening our security. We are not affected by tho latest happenings. Czechoslovakia’s contractual relations with other Powers and our own strength have always been tho real guarantors of our security and will continue to bo so.” WILL NOT BOW TO GERMANY. WASHINGTON, Alarch 15. The Czech Alinister (Herr Vladinir Hnrhan) called on the Under secretary of State (Mr Sumner Vellcs) and said that Czechoslovakia would not follow the example of Austria. He added: “We will not bow to German pressure. Instead, we will fight.”

ALLEGED OFFER BY MUSSOLINI. PARIS. March 14. AT. Bertrand Jouvenol, son of the former French Ambassador to Rome, reveals in the journal Liberte that he was the channel for Signor Afussolini’s offer to France in June, 1936, to join France in defending the independence of Austria and Czechoslovakia. This offer, hi' says, was conditional on France recognising tho conquest of Abyssinia. France turned down the offer as incompatible with AT. Blum’s Socialistic election pledges. GOERING’S CRYPTIC STATEMENT. LONDON, Alarch 14. Al embers of the House of Commons in the lobbies are discussing a statement in Field-ATarshall Goering’s newspaper, “National Zeitung, ” which read: “What Lord Halifax yas told when ho camo to Berlin has now been revealed by law, and the new map of Europe is the result.”

THE AUSTRIAN JEWS. LONDON, Alarch 14. The Jewish Congress has appealed to the League of Nations, drawing attention to the tragic fate awaiting thousands of Austrian Jews. The Prague correspondent of “The Times” reports that Baron Louis Rothschild, who wished to go to Rome for the week-end, had liis passport torn up on the frontier by a German officer, who remarked, ‘‘You Jews will never have passports again.” THE LITTLE ENTENTE. The Little Entente Council will meet next week.