“Land of German Empire ”

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 62, 15 March 1938, Page 7

“Land of German Empire ”

AUSTRIAN CONSULS NOTIFIED Received Monday, 10.20 p.m. WASHINGTON, March 13. Ilcrr Edgar Prochnik, Austrian Minister to the United States, has received instructions from the Minister of Foreign Affairs at Vienna to notify his Government’s Consuls throughout the United States that Austria has been proclaimed “A Land of the German Empire. ” It is pointed out that this does not definite the exact status of Austria, leaving indefinite whether it should be considered an autonomous State or a province belonging to Germany. Herr Prochnik has not receiveil aqy instructions limiting his functions, though before the message arrived he had assumed that the Legation would be closed and Austrian affairs be taken over by a German diplomatic staff. The State Department indicated that serious consideration would be given whether the Austrian-German union was accomplished by force, which would make recognition contrary to the United States’ policy, though way for recognition will be cased if union is ratified by a plebiscite, when it could be regarded as voluntary. NO CONCERN OF U.S.A. IMPETUS TO NAVAL BUILDING Received Monday, 9.20 p.m. WASHINGTON, March 14. Congress members are united in the attitude that what Hitler docs in Europe should be no concern of the United States. A hands-off attitude is favoured, but some are more apprehen-

The Washington correspondent of the New York Herald-Tribune states that, regardless of Britain’s stand. White House has definitely decided to invoke the escalator clause and is prepared unilaterally to remove the present sizelimit on battleships. Within a few days Germany’s seizure of Austria has made the Administration more determined than ever to jjuild. a powerful navy.