ANOTHER NAZI TRIAL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23000, 30 March 1938, Page 12

ANOTHER NAZI TRIAL

Little surprise will be occasioned by the announcement that Dr. Schuschnigg, the former Austrian Chancellor, is to be tried in Germany for alleged political or kindred offences. It was not to be expected that, having resisted the Nazi purpose to absorb Austria, he would escape scot free after its achievement. No doubt the case against him will be adroitly prepared, for the German Government will not be altogether heedless of the interest of a watching world. Were he identified with the Nazi Party a simpler way would have been possible. He is to be accused, it seems, of intending to falsify the Austrian plebiscite on the question of submission to Germany. The basis of this charge will probably be the reported discovery of certain ballot papers when his official headquarters were searched; some were said to be irregular in form and others wrongfully placed together in an envelope. Another charge appears to involve responsibility for a miscarriage of justice when the murderer of Chancellor Dollfuss was brought to trial. At that time the German Government was generally believed to have prompted the crime, and the forthcoming indictment of Dr. Schuschnigg is doubtless designed to exculpate the Government by placing a share of blame upon his shoulders. That he will be at a disadvantage when facing such charges, laid by those eager to discredit him, is obvious. Nazi methods, especially when punitive, have so often been manifestly unscrupulous that hope of unbiassed procedure cannot be confidently entertained.