Austria Yields to Germany

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 40, 17 February 1938, Page 7

Austria Yields to Germany

Italy Withdraws Military Support

VIENNA ’ S DILEMMA Vnlt.d Press Association—Br fil-ctrlo T.lecraph —Copyright. ’ LONDON, Feb. 15. The Vienna wireless station broadcast: “Dr. von Schuschnigg will propose a change of Cabinet to Herr Miklas. The new Cabinet will be made known in the course of to-night or in the early hours of the morning.” London newspapers in their first editions generally express the belief that Austria has accepted Germany’s demands, which are reported to consist of:— The inclusion of a minimum of three Nazis in the Cabinet, including Dr. Inquart. ■«-' An amnesty to Austrian Nazis at present imprisoned. Prompt repatriation of 30,000 Austrian Nazis at present in Germany. Cessation of Austrian episcopates succouring and encouraging Catholic priests from Germany. Prohibition of Austrian newspapers reporting Catholic persecution in Germany or details of Germany’s troubles. Also economic clauses. Herr Hitler finally demanded Austria’s acceptance of his ultimatum with the threat that otherwise he would deliver a speech on February 20 which would provide a spark arousing the Austrian Nazis. That was the reason for Berlin’s silence regarding the interview. The table had been banged and terms handed over. It only remained to aw r ait acceptance. Meanwhile, Herr Miklas was aghast at the German demands. He and Dr. von Schuschnigg realised that giving Dr. Inquart control of the police would be tantamount to the surrender of Austrian independence. The terms were communicated to Signor Mussolini with an urgent plea for advice, but the Duce was away skiing and did not reply. Negotiations with Herr von Papen produced permission that General Zehner might remain War Minister. That is the only important concession. The Austrians were in a terrible predicament. They had been warned that Signor Mussolini was no longer able to provide the military help he successfully offered against Germany in 1934. The Austrians were confronted with the clear-cut prospect of disorders, with Germany marching—which may have been a bluff—unless she yielded. , Troops On Frontier ? The British United Press Vienna cor-* respondent understands that strong opposition culminating in Herr Miklas's, the President’s, threat to dismiss. Dr. von Schuschnigg is delaying the. Cabinet reconstruction. The Catholic: Peasant leaders and the more democ-’ ratic portions of the Fatherland Front are supporting Herr Miklas. j Thirty thousand workers petitioned; Dr. von Schuschnigg insisting that the.' Dollfuss road should be unswervingly 1 followed. - - - ; Dr. von Schuschnigg at noon to-day made contact with Signor Mussolini telephone and was advised ' to accept 1 Herr Hitler's demands as reduced by: telephone by the Fuhrer, who declared’ that they were his last word. Circles close to the Government believe that there are German troop concentrations on the Austrian frontier. Other reports speak of troop movements in Bavaria near the Tyrol frontier, including several thousand men, among whom are mechanised units and units of the air force, but Austrian frontier officials say that nothin? is known of th*r*r The Times Berlin correspondent says that there is no confirmation of the report that troops are lining the Austrian frontier. The report, he says, is probably due to the manoeuvres * of alpine reservists near Fussen. close to the frontier. Significant Armed Demonstration.^ Reuter’s Vienna correspondent says: "A significant demonstration of x German armed forces in £ the « guise p of manoeuvres is believed 4 to * be £ the secret of the last-minute hitch in the reconstruction of the Cabinet, which has been ceaselessly, discussing .since mid-day. “The complete list of the new Cabinet will be ready later. It is reported to include Dr. Guido Schmidt, who is pro-German and hitherto was assistantsecretary, as Foreign Secretary, replacing Dr. von Schuschnigg, who will retain the Chancellorship, and four Nazi supporters apart from Dr. Inquart. “Newspapers had already begun to print the list when its withdrawal was suddenly ordered and fresh discussions commenced.” After the completion of the agreement of July, 1936, between Austria and Germany, which recognised Austrian independence, Herr Miklas, the Austrian President, nominated Dr. Guido Schmidt, the vice-director of President Miklas’s Cabinet, to be Undersecretary of State at the disposal of the Chancellor, Dr. von Schuschnigg, in the conduct of foreign affairs. Dr. Schmidt is a civil servant and is in no sense a politician. CONFISCATION OF BRITISH NEWSPAPERS BERLIN, Feb. 15. British newspapers which published details of the Austrian crisis have been confiscated. RECONSTRUCTION OF CABINET GENERAL AMNESTY FOR POLITICAL OFFENDERS Received Wednesday, 7.45 p.m. VIENNA, Feb. 16. An official announcement Dr.

Schuschnigg has reconstructed the Austrian Cabinet, which now includes Dr. Inquart as Homo Minister with control of the police; also four other Nazis— Professor Adamovic (Minister of Justice), Herr Adolf Wattsch (Minister of Labour), Herr Franz Matschnigg (Minister of Forests) and Colonel Stepsky (Minister of Commerce). The reconstruction was completed at 2 a.m. and ‘the Ministers immediately took the oath of office in the presence of Herr Miklas. The new Foreign Minister is Dr. Schmidt. The new Cabinet decided to recommend a general amnesty for all political offenders. ALTERING THE BALANCE OF POWER IN EUROPE VIRTUAL SACRIFICE OF AUSTRIA’S INDEPENDENCE Received Wednesday, 7.45 p.m. LONDON, Feb. 16. “ There can be few precedents for Hitler’s action in presenting his demands for concessions to the Nazis in the form of an ultimatum,” says the Manchester Guardian’s political correspondent. “ Nothing can save Austria now, except the intervention of the Powers. “The powers chiefly interested in Austrian independence are Czechoslovakia and Italy, but Czechoslovakia can do nothing alone, and Rome’s silence reveals one thing in most vivid lashion, namely, Italy’s weakness. Yet Austria is far more important to Italy than Spain, Libya or even Abyssinia. Mussolini has lately shown a more friendly attitude to Britain, possibly because he wishes to show Germany he is not at all dependent on her, but Hitlerhas remained unimpressed. “For Britain, the independence of Austria is not of major interest, but it certainly is of very great interest, because if Hitler’s action is followed up successfully it will transform the balance of power in Europe. For once, therefore, Britain and Italy have a common interest, namely, the maintenance of the Central European status quo. ’’ The Telegraph says: “By surrendering to Hitler’s demands, Ausftta has virtually sacrificed her independence.” The Vienna correspondent of the Chronicle understands that another concession is the removal of the Austrian Chief of Staff, Field-Marshal Jansa, who will be replaced by a general more favourable to Germany. Referring to their interview at Berchtesgaden, the Vienna correspondent of the Telegraph says Hitler accused Dr. Schuschnigg of tyrannising the Austrian Nazis, and upbraided him for the speeches of his supporters. Hitler declared that the Austrian Nazi patience was ended, and unless Dr, Schuschnigg accepted a settlement, there would be a far worse outburst of terrorism than in 1936. Hitler then declared that, in the event of disorder* in Austria, he would ’*Snarch, ” as he would be unable to resist any longer the appeals of down-trodden Germans in Austria.