THE NAZI COUP

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22970, 23 February 1938, Page 14

THE NAZI COUP

AUSTRIAN POLICY j ' ,'t •; I• ;• ■' 1 HITLER AGREEMENT FRIENDSHIP WITH BERLIN FREEDOM IN HOME AFFAIRS J3y Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright LONDON, Feb. 21 No actual treaty was drawn up at Berchtesgaden by Dr. Schuschnigg, the Austrian Chancellor, and Herr Hitler, according to information from Austrian sources, said Sir 'John Simon, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in the House of Commons to-day. "I am informed, however," the Minister added, "of the main points of the agreement .which are: — "The Austrian Chancellor will take far-reaching conciliatory measures with a vi(sw to furthering the internal pacification of Austria, while Germany reaffirms the continuance of the agreement of July, 1936, and renews assurances of non-intervention in Austrian affairs. "The consolidation of these affairs makes it possible for the Austrian Goa'ernnicnt to take up a more fiieudlj attitude toward those who, hitherto, have held aloof from the main trend 'of Austrian policy. "The agreement includes an amnesty; reconstruction of the Government with the -/-inclusion of Dr. Inquart, who is the only Nazi in tho 'Cabinet apart from Herr von Hor;6tenau, Minister without portfolio, who is a former Cabinet Minister; the restoration of pensions to officials deprived of them; and permission for the t Nazis to indulge in political activity '.within the framework of the Patriotic Front constitution. "The monetary and economic policy •is unchanged. Germany is to prohibit the interference of Nazi officers in Austrian affairs." iREACTIONS TO SPEECH FRENCH PRESS HOSTILE HITLER'S EUROPEAN AIMS ITALY AND MEDITERRANEAN PARIS, Feb. 21 The reactions of the French press to Herr Hitler's speech are uniformly hostile. Fears have been aroused regarding •Czechoslovakia's position, and also that there will be German support of Italy's Mediterranean aims, as tho price of 11 Duce's submissiveness to Germany's- unhindered advance in Central Europe. These anxieties, coupled with Mr. . Eden's resignation, have aroused very gloomy forebodings, and the conviction thai; a policy of firmness to protect France's security v was never more 'essential. Hi is felt in France that a general election in Britain will be necessary :shortly and that no doubt Labour will be successful. Everyone is asking what '■will! happen after that. NO APPROACH MADE 'AID FOR CZECHOSLOVAKIA : SIR JOHN SIMON'S REPLY (Received February 22, 6.5 p.m.) LONDON, Feb. 22 Keplying to questions in the House «bf Commons to-day, tbe Chancellor of jfche Exchequer, Sir John Simon, said Britain had not approached France, or the League concerning tho 1 possibility of joint action regarding * '{Jz-jchoslovakia. CLASHES WITH NAZIS OPPONENTS IN CITIES ' ANXIETY AMONG JEWS (Received February 22, 5.5 p.m.) VIENNA, Feb. 21 Thousands of Nazis, who assembled fin the main square.. of Graz, Styrca, •prevented a counter demonstration by members of the I' athcrland Front. \ Several clashes have occurred in ,Vienna between Nazi and anti-Nazi urtiversity students. Tho polico have restricted the students' activities and have separated the combatants and kept the traffic moving. Anxiety is spreading among the ■Jews, some of whom are trying' to sell ■jtheir properties. NEW YORK COMMENT NO REAL ASSURANCES ANALYSIS OF ADDRESS NEW YORK, Fob. 21

The New York Times, commenting on Herr Hitler's speech, says: "It must bo eiiid that while it made no open threats it brought no real assurances. It was loss sensational than somo other (sjpeeches made by Herr Hitler. It did not explode political bombshells. "The Fuehrer failed to announce, as some had predicted he would, that Germany would'move immediately to transform the agreement with Austria into annexation. He failed to assert that immediate demands would be made on Czechoslovakia to end that country's defensive alliance with Russia and enter the orbit of German power. "In spite of the omission of such demands arid notwithstanding Herr Hitler's reiteration of Germany's desire to co-operate in a peaceful solution of International problems, the speech gave :no assurances at those points whero doubts have been largest, and accordingly mdst needed. Herr Hitler asserts that ho does not seek territory in General Franco's Spain or in the Far East, but significantly enough he omits reference to -territories in that quarter of the world to which German ambitions are most plainly directed, namely, the Central and -Eastern Europe groups. "Britain, which sought to satisfy German ambitions in regard to colonies by. making available credit and raw materials, was sharply reminded that I ®Jjh®tot u te9 would not be acceptable, j The power politics underlying the theme ©t an address of this kind can have brought little real assurance to the «em°CTaci«s of Europe,, particularly