DICTATORSHIP OF NECESSITY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22252, 3 May 1934, Page 8

DICTATORSHIP OF NECESSITY

The Corporative or, as it seems likely to be designated, Federal State of Austria, has been initiated with considerable public manifestations of approval and, it has been suggested, a good many private misgivings. The revolution in government, which it involves, was not as suddenly effected as might appear from the Parliament’s assembly for the solitary office of voting itself into oblivion. Austria has been without a Constitution for more than a year, with Dr Dollfuss as the head of a loosely-constructed dictatorship. The Heimwchr, or Austrian Fascists, who formed the backbone of his Administration, appear to be pledged to sustain him by avowals less unreserved than those by which the heads of the Italian Fascist and the German Nazi States are supported. The dictator is kept in office at their discretion, because he can command more of a following outside the Heimwehr ranks than could their own leader, Prince Starhembcrg. The motive force which in Austria has produced a strong alliance that may be described as Austro-Fascism, though its parties arc not all Fascists in the complete sense, is that of fear. Fear of the Socialists has called many elements in the community into league against democracy; fear of the Nazis’ acquisitive campaign for the incorporation of Austria in the New Germany has provided them with a second strong reason for combining forces. With the inauguration of the Corporative Constitution the Austrian Nationalists have regularised the new regime which, like those in existence in Italy and Germany, has a disbelief in democratic government as its central characteristic. The order of government is that of a collaboration of bureaux charged with the administration of special departments —the State Council and Economic, Intellect and Provincial Councils. These councils, which are composed, in theory at least, of representatives of all sections of their respective constituencies —excepting, of course, Socialists —will be answerable to the Federal Diet, of which they arc the parts, and this directly to the head of the Stale. Dr Dollfuss will not be an autocratic dictator, as Signor Mussolini is, but

certain affairs will, be directly under his control, including the schools and universities, the newspapers, theatres and broadcasting service. The Federal State of Austria might be most easily defined as a Fascist State without a Mussolini. That it is a dictatorship that has been inaugurated is evident. The arrangement cannot greatly appeal to the Anglo-Saxon observer, but it may prove acceptable to the Austrian temperament. And even if a great part of the Austrian people is not intrigued by it, the majority must recognise that for Austria the only other prospects were internal chaos or absorption in Germany, or both. With a strong Administration in office, which commands the ordinary police and military forces, and can depend on the backing of the Heimwehr, Austria has a - reasonable chance of retaining her national identity and working out her economic salvation. Necessarily, there will be criticism of the Corporative Constitution, and it is probable that individuals may suffer persecution and injustice under it. That seems an inevitable result of any form of dictatorship, in which the reasonable freedom of the subject must be subordinated to the need of the State. In view of the constant trials which Austria has undergone since the war, foreign Powers which desire to see the economic rehabilitation of the country brought about will regard the new regime with goodwill and sympathy. It is a dictatorship of necessity in which the laudable aim of national restoration must be allowed to explain, if not to justify, the means employed of achieving it.