TURMOIL IN AUSTRIA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LV, Issue 16881, 20 June 1918, Page 6

TURMOIL IN AUSTRIA.

WORKERS' GRAVE THREATS.

GREAT PEACE MOVEMENT.

LONDON, June 12. Apparently serious things are happening in Austria, of which very little is allowed to be known, but significant facts are beginning to leak out indicating the existence of a strong peace movement among the masses.

It now transpires that German SocialDemocratic workers of Austria, after a two-days' conference, issued threatening documents confirming the view that the •workers are in a state of the greatest excitement.

It warns the Government that irretrievable effects will be produced by the excited feelings of the masses, unless the workers are convinced that the Central Powers were not prolonging the war for any Imperialistic aims, unless there be equal distribution of foodstuffs, unless the (iovernment forthwith summons the ParLament, and settles labour disputes according to civil law, and unless the Government meets other social demands.

he document exhorts the workers not to strike now, but to hold themselves in readiness for a. more favourable hour, " which is coming."

In reference to this last threat it is noteworthy that an important article in Politiken, the journal of M. Branting, the Swedish SociaJist, states:—"Austria may prove to be the Zion whence liberation will proceed." The same paper specifically comments on the '• great peace movement* in Austria."