Austrian Independence

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 63, 16 March 1938, Page 5

Austrian Independence

BRITAIN ISSUES WARNING TEXT OF GERMAN REPLY (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, March 14. Mr. Chamberlain began his statement with a recapitulation of the events of the last few days. He made the point that the results of the meetings at Berchtesgaden between Herr Hitler and Dr. Schuschnigg had been stated by Herr Hitler to be an extension of the framework of July, 1936, an agreement which provided for recognition of Austrian in dependence by Germany, and said: 14 Whatever, therefore, were the results of the Berchtesgadcn meeting, it is clear that the agreement reached was still on the basis of the independence of Austria. ’ ’ The Prime Minister went on to recall the steps taken by the British Government. The Foreign Secretary saw the German Foreign Minister on March 10, and addressed to him a grave warning on the Austrian situation and upon what appeared to be the policy of the German Government regarding it. In particular Lord Halifax told Herr von Ribbentrop that the British Government attached the greatest importance to all measures that were being taken to ensure that the plebiscite was carried out without interference. “The Ambassador in Berlin," he said, “regis tered a protest in strong terms with the German Government against such a us? of coercion, backed by force, against an independent State in order to create a situation incompatible with its national independence. I made earnest representations in the same sense to Herr von Ribbentrop, with whom Lord Halifax also had two further interviews."

Mr. Chamberlain came then to the German reply, in which Baron von Neurath stated:

The British Government is not within its rights in claiming the role of protector of tho independence of Austria. In the course of diplomatic conversations regarding the Austrian question the German Government never left the British Government in doubt that the form of realtions between the Rcicfi and Austria can only be regarded as the internal affair of the German people, which is of no concern to a third Power. For "this reason the German Government must reject aj inadmissible the protest lodged by Britain, even though ir is only conditional.

The Note further denied that forcible pressure hud becu brought to bear on Dr. Schuschnigg. and declared that the account of the ultimatums ou which the British protest was conditionally based was “pure imagination."

Mr. Chamberlain went ou to say that Britain and Austria were both members of the League of Nations and both were signatories, as was also Germany of the treaties which provided that the independence of Austria was inalienable. He emphasised that the Government had been in the closest touch with the French Government throughout these events. He gave a complete refutation of the rumoats that the British Government had given consent, if not encouragement, to the idea of the fcbsorpiion of Austria by Germany.

The Prime Minister wa3 cheered from all parts of the House when he sat down.