PART OF REICH

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19584, 16 March 1938, Page 5

PART OF REICH

NATION PASSES NEW AUSTRIAN STATUS GERMAN WILL ENFORCED CLAIMS BY HITLER GREATER ACHIEVEMENT (Klee. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (Reed. March 16, 11.40 a.m.) ' LONDON, March 15. Reports from Vienna state tlial Herr Hitler made a triumphal drive in the Holden Platz to-day. A vast crowd of people roared greetings. Dr. Inquart addressed Herr Hitler as: “My Fuehrer” and added: “As the last head of the Austrian Stale, I announce the legal execution of the German nation’s will. Austria is now a Federal State of the Reich. A cen-tury-old dream has come true.” Herr Hitler was thunderously greeted. Significantly he addressed iiis hearers as “German men and German women ”

He added: “The significance of this revolution will be appraised only by later generations. 1 now proclaim a new mission for this land. The land of Ostmark (Austria's ancient name) is the youngest bulwark of the German Reich. For centuries the eastern frontiers of Ostmark withstood the onslaughts of enemies. For centuries hence they must defend the Reich and I know they will fulfil the task.

“Our task is the common work of solving economic and social problems and of making Austria a stronghold of National Socialist ideals. 1 thank Dr. Inquart and the countless members of his party who have proved that Germans become harder unde r pressure.

“Now I can. give an account of the greatest achievement of my life as Fuehrer and Chancellar of the German nation. I report to history the return of my homeland to the Reich," h e concluded. Jubilant SingingThe crowd went wild at the conclusion of the speech singing “Duetchland über Alles” and the “Horstwessel” song. Herr von Ribbentrop has taken over the Austrian Foreign Office and Dr. Inquart has been proclaimed the Reich Statthalter, corresponding to the governorship of a German State

A grim jest was played on all forpign correspondents who called at tlie Foreign Office in Vienna to receive permits to report to-day’s happenings. They were turned back at the point of the bayonet as they were leaving and were detained for an hour. No reason was given.

The correspondents were permitted to leave the Chancellery after Herr Hitler’s arrival in the- Hclden Platz. Absorption of Army

An army order issued in Vienna states: “From to-day the Austrian Federal Army will become part of the German Army.” Herr Himmler has taken over the Austrian police force which will be reorganised. In the meantime, German police are in control. Storm Troops and other Nazis are picketing many Jewish shops. Jews are forbidden to participate in the plebiscite on reunion with Germany to be taken in Austria on April 10.

The Austrian Minister of Justice, Herr Heuber, has issued a decree in Vienna, dismissing all Jewish or halfJewish notaries. Cardinal Innitzer, who is Sudeten German, discussed witli HenHitler the position of the Roman Catholic Church in Austria where, it is understood, 90 per cent of the population are Catholic. It is stated that Herr Hitler in the course of the interview, gave the cardinal assurances.

Vienna reports that the plight of Austrians or German refugees who participated in the Austrian anti-Nazi campaign is appalling. Only a few have managed to flee the country. The Polish authorities are faced with the problem of thousands of Polish Jews clamouring to be allowed to enter from Austria.

A Berlin message says that Herr Streicher has left for Vienna to direct the anti-Jewish measures.

WASHINGTON NOTIFIED DIPLOMATIC STATUS HOSTILE DEMONSTRATTON NEW YORK, March 15. The diplomatic relationship between the United States and Austria ended at 6 o’clock last night, when Herr DieckhofT, the German Ambassador at Washington, notified Mr. Cordell Hull, Secretary of State, that the nation of Austria no longer existed. He said that he had been instructed to take over the Austrian diplomatic establishments throughout the United States.

The Washington correspondent of the New York Times expresses the opinion that the Government’s official attitude will be acquiescence to the annexation. Mr. Hull, however, told a conference of press representatives that conditions in Europe had not reached a point where the United Slates could define its policy. Importers, buying organisations and large retailers who slopped buying from Germany after Herr Hitler s rise have decided to cease buying Austrian goods. Firms with Vienna offices will probablv move them to Prague. The police arrested 25 demonstrators near the German Embassy at Washington. The Ambassador, Herr DieckhofT, refused to receive a delegation from the demonstrators. Four persons were arrested near the Austrian legation. A message from St. Louis states that a swastika flag flying from the German Consulate was set on fire by a man from a thirteenth fioor window. The man used a blowtorch attached to a pole. , , The attention of the consulate was attracted by cheering crowds in the street. The man disappeared.