STORY OF AUSTRIA

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 80, 29 November 1945, Page 5

STORY OF AUSTRIA

“FIRST FLOWER OF FIFTH COLUMN” GERMAN CONSPIRACY OUTLINED (Rec. 10.30 a.m.) Nuremberg:, Nov. 28. “In the story of Austria we see the first flower of what we call the fifth column," said Mr Alderman, outlining the conspiracy to annex Austria at the resumed war crimes trial. Heavy rain was falling as the seventh session began, and only a glimmer of grey light showed through the curtained windows of the court room. An extra guard was posted around the dock but withdrew after the entry of the tribunal. More arc lights, brighter than ever, beat down on the dock, in which six of the accused were wearing dark glasses. A four-panel chart showing how the German occupation of Austria led to op6n war was prominently displayed on a wall. Mr Alderman read an affidavit by Mr G. S. Messersmith, an American diplomat formerly stationed in Berlin and Vienna, and now United Stacey Ambassador to Mexico. He said the Ambassador, who was aged 70, should be spared a long journey to testify personally. The defence objection to the affidavit; was overruled. Lord Justice Lawrence said he was not bound by ordinary rules of evidence, but if the Court later decided that the presence of the witness was necessary he could summon Mr Messersmith. The affidavit stated that wnen he was in Vienna Dr. Dqlfuss, von Schuschnigg and President Miklas told him the Nazis wer,e applying continuous presjsure to gain places in the Cabinet, after which they intended to crush all opposition from inside. The Nazis resorted to economic pressure, propaganda and teri eristic acts to compel the Austrian Government to accept the terms. Nazi officials in Berlin told him the outrages were instigated and directed by them. When Hitler visited Mussolini at Venice in the middle of June, 1934, the outrages were momentarily stopped as Mussolini was supporting the Austrian Government and Hitler could not afford an open break with Mussolini then. DECEIT OF SEYSS-INQUART? The affidavit said Seyss-Inquart, who was Chancellor for Austria for three days before the annexation, deceived Schuschnigg, professing great friendship, while making secret visits to Hitler. In 1938, satisfied that Britain and France would not, and knowing that Italy could not take action. Hitler struck the final blow against Austrian independence, bringing to a climax what must be recorded as one of the most insidious, most dastardly, unjustified, and altogether effective series of measures to bring about the end of a sovereign State. GOERING EXCITED Goering became most excited, loudly saying “Nein! Nein!” and writing rapidly as Mr Alderman sketched events in Vienna on 25th July, 1934, when Dr. Dolfuss was murdered. Goering for the first time during the trial looked angry when Mr Alderman said the Austrian putsch was organised by German and Austrian Nazis. Mr Aiderman submitted the trial’s first photographic evidence, the picture of a plaque the Germans erected in Vienna in 1938 to the killers of Dr. Dolfuss. “We call it murder by ratification,” said the prosecutor. “You can see the wreath the Germans placed on the plaque. The inscription shows that Nazi Germany took the responsibility and credit for the death of Dr. Dolfuss." Von Papen shook his head vigorously when Mr Alderman requoted Mr Messersmith’s statement that vqn Papen, then Ambassador to Vienna, used his standing as a good Catholic to further Nazi aims in Austria. Von Papen raised his eyes as if to heaven, heJd both his hands outstretched and shook his heayd while all his dock mates, especially Goering, Ribbentrop, von Schirach and Seyss-Inquart, turned towards von Papen and smiled at him. THE ORIGINAL QUISLING Mr Alderman read a letter to SeyssInquart from a German who was at present in Nuremberg in which SeyssInquart is described as “the one-man creator of the ansehluss." T£ e prosecutor said the Court would take note that Seyss-Inquart was the original quisling. Germany and Austria on 11th July, 11*36, entered into an accord. This looked like a great triumph for Austria, but actually Austria was committed to put the friends of Germany into the Cabinet and grant an amnesty to all Nazis. Thousands of Nazis were subsequently released. The Court went into closed session t 0 consider whether Dr. Schuschnigg, a former Chancellor of Austria, should be called as a witness, after which Lord Justice Lawrence announced that the tribunal upheld thp defence objection to Schuschnigg’s affidavit being introduced as evidence. If the prosecution or the defence wanted to call Schuschnigg as a witness they were at liberty to d 0 so, and if it were found impossible to obtain him as a witness the tribunal would consider the adj missability of his affidavit. The tribunal granted Ribbentrop’s reI quest for German White Papers during his Foreign Secretaryship.