Serious Clashes Occur

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 60, 12 March 1938, Page 5

Serious Clashes Occur

AUSTRO-GERMAN FRIENDSHIP ENDED Received Friday, 7.10 p.m. VIENNA, March 11. The whole city at midnight was still covered with demonstrators. Serious clashes in several districts occurred. Two people were stabbed and a policeman dragged from his horse and assaulted. Police charged with sabres and arrested the culprit. Cars were held up, the windows smashed and the occupants abused because they were presumed to be Jews. Nazis invaded the Jewish quarter and assaulted a number of Jews.

All police reserves have been called out, and it is expected that martial law will be proclaimed to-day. The Government has emphasised that everyone is free to vote in secrecy if desired.

The authorities refused to allow Herr Inquart, Nazi-nominated Minister of the Interior, to broadcast regarding the plebiscite, on the ground that no useful purpose could be served. The Times’ Berlin correspondent says the plebiscite was the subject of conferences between Herr Hitler and his advisers. Whatever Germany may do, Dr. Schuschnigg’s action appears to have ended the friendly Austro-Gcrman relations which were thought to have been inaugurated at the Berchtesgaden.

An authoritative observer in Rome states that Italy considers the plebiscite an internal affair. “We are merely observers,” he said.

A London message says it is understood that Viscount Halifax (Foreign Secretary) yesterday asked Herr vjn Ribbentrop (German Foreign Minister) for an undertaking from the German Government that it would not try to influence the Austrian plebiscite, says the diplomatic correspondent of the Daily Mail. A similar request was sent to Sir Neville Henderson for submission to the German Government.

Herr von Ribbentrop replied that he could not give such an undertaking without consulting Herr Hitler, which he would do immediately he returned to Berlin. He added that the German Government did not regard the plebiscite as cither fair or “free” as the ago limit of 24 barred many Nazi sympathisers from voting.