Manawatu Evening Standard. MONDAY, SEPT. 25, 1933. AUSTRIA’S NEW CABINET.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIII, Issue 255, 25 September 1933, Page 6

Manawatu Evening Standard. MONDAY, SEPT. 25, 1933. AUSTRIA’S NEW CABINET.

Declaring his policy to a patriotic gathering in Vienna on September 11, tire Chancellor of Austria (Dr Dollfuss) announced the “termination of the era of Marxism and capitalism within the State in favour of authoritative leadership on a Christian and guild basis.” The diminutive Chancellor, who has made a gallant fight to withstand the onslaughts of the Nazis in Austria bound to the German organisation, and persecuting raids and propaganda from across the German border, lias been unable to maintain Austrian democracy as hitherto. Having therefore to find a way out of the turmoil, he discovers it in the rather vague procedure outlined. But Cabinet lias been reconstructed in a manner which suggests that the Chancellor has capitulated to the Austrian Fascist body, the Heimwehr, lead by Prince Starhemberg. At any rate, one of its officers has become Vice-Chancel-lor. and the fact that the Ileimwehr has risen from the smallest body in Parliament to the greatest power in the country within a year reveals the growth of Austrian opinion against the Marxian Socialism of the country. “After Hitler, the Prince of Starhemberg,” it was written when the youthful Prince flashed across the European scene to cause concern in tlie various Chancellories. The Heimwehr is a quasi-military organisation meaning home defenders. It had its roots in the Tyrol mountains, being formed about six years ago as a protest against the rule of the Viennese Socialists. At once it attracted followers to its banners, the numbers being greatly augmented when its members maintained a train service in spite of a general strike. With a return to normal industrial conditions the Heimwehr continued to function to the Socialists’ anonyance for the kind of surveillance it exercised over organised government. To curb the Heimwehr by endowing it with responsibilities the then Chancellor invited the Prince and another representative to take Cabinet rank. It was argued that their inclusion showed the strength of the new organisation which was patterned on the Mussolini style of doing things. The Heimwehr has in the ' meantime gone from strength to strength, and Major Fey, who now becomes Vice-Chancellor, has been its representative in the Dollfuss Cabinet. If as believed the Chancellor has capitulated to _ the Starhemberg organisation, it but fulfills the predictions made some time ago that eventually it would swallow the Cabinet. It is significant that a few weeks ago Dr Dollfuss turned to Italy in his predicament, to be received most sympathetically. He has now shown a preference for the Fascist organisation and snubs the German and Austrian followers of the swastika sign; but to placate France he does not refer to a Fascist State. Nevertheless, the proposed formation of an organisation similar to the Fascist Grand Council to assist in legislating can mean nothing else than that Austria has made a big advance towards complete Fascism. The German Nazi headquarters at Munich foresee a short reign for Dr Dollfuss and submergence in a wave of Nazism with which the Heimwehr is in conflict. Austria’s key position in Central Europe has made its fight against Hitlerism the most interesting of recent incidents on the European stage. Deep rooted in Austrian people is the feeling of union with Germany, but not absorption in the Hitler State. For this latter reason the Chancellor has striven to maintain Austria’s political integrity. The Prussian habit has been always to attack the weak, but Austria

has shown surprising resistance which the other nations have appreciated, for to be overwhelmed by Germany would sow fruitful seeds of another war. If, therefore, the “authoritative Government” of Dr Dollfuss which replaces the party system is able to destroy the Nazi conspiracy, a big' blow will have been struck at Hitlerism. The future of the State is not without misgivings, however.