UNREST IN AUSTRIA

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19023, 25 May 1936, Page 10

UNREST IN AUSTRIA

FEAR OF NAZI “PUTSCH” DISQUIETING RUMOURS LONDON, April 25. There are rumours of a possible Nazi “putsch” in Austria jii August or the early autumn. According to the Vienna correspondent of the -Manchester Guardian, the rumours cannot be dismissed as altogether fantastic, Ihe disintegration of the Nazi Party in Austria at. the end of last year was so thorough that it will take some months to reunite the rank and tile in a coherent and serviceable organisation The Nazi “putsch” in 1934 was defeated with comparative ease, though the entire population was then terrorised by the bomb outrages, and the Nazi organisation was wide-spread and well knit. The Nazi then had storm troops and the Government offices were lull ol sympathisers with their cause. Moreover, the Stvriau and Cannthian Nazis were comparatively well armed. Organisation, according to the correspondent. is more difficult now. Ihe authorities are vigilant, and police spies are. everywhere. Whenever the nucleus of an S.’S, or S.A. formation is got together, a. number of arrests are effected. The Government offices have been largely purged of “enemies of the State, and the presence of Government cominis sinners in German-owned companies makes the distribution of money through the medium of tl ese linns more difficult. Undoubtedly, it is stated, much smuggling of arms is going on, but the Nazis are not yet as well armed as they were in July, 1934. while the Government. formations have, vastly increased their armament, and despite the presence of Nazi nuclei in them the Government can still trust its praetorian guards. GPR.MAN FACTOR. A Nazi “putsch,” it is suggested, would have a chance of success now only if German troops were- to march simultaneously into Austria, a manliest violation of the territory of a _ “sovereign” country. Thus, it is considered, those who assert that a Nazi “putsch” is not feasible before the late summer or early autumn are probably right. Nevertheless, the correspondent continues, certain factors have increased the chances of the Nazis. The principal one is ihe had internal situation. At the beginning! of the year a, conciliatory policy seemed to lie inducing the workers to adopt a policy of “wait and see,” but recent events have embittered them. The. most important of these events was tho suppression of the strikes in the motor-car industry. Not, only was the strike broken, blit many leaders who were members of tho Government controlled union were dismissed. This brought about a, bitter conflict, and also a cleavage between the Ileimwehr and the Christian Socialist wing of the. Government. All this has increased the dis satisfaction of the workers and salaried officials, and Nazi propaganda, is making capital out of the unrest. Moreover, it is stated, there is undoubtedly some dissension in the Government camp. EFFECT OF SANCTIONS 'When, lastyautumn, the League adopted sanctions against Italy, an apparent alleviation was, it is stated, noticeable in the Austrian internal situation. Thu fact that Austria had not joined the sanctionist countries caused a revival of her industries, and Italy’s pre-occupation in Abyssinia brought Austria, at least for a- short period, some measure of rapprochement with Western Europe. As a. result an attempt was made to win over the workers by an amnesty and by the promise of the establishment of democratic methods. When Signor Mussolini’s regime .appeared to he threatened by the effectiveness of League sanctions, Heir Hitler tried to alleviate the position of the .Italian dictator by a tacit truce over Austria. The situation, however, is stated to have changed radically during 1 he. last two months. The Italian victories in Abyssinia have helped the Ileimwehr wing of the Austrian Government to re-establish its reactionary and pro-Italian policy, and the measures of the Christian Socialist wing, aimed at pacifying the workers, have suffered shipwreck. Tho occupation of the Rhineland so iucieased the confidence of the Austrian Nazis that some faith is placed in the rumours of an impending “putsch.”