NOT WANTED.

Southland Times, Issue 22043, 16 June 1933, Page 7

NOT WANTED.

HITLERISM IN AUSTRIA GOVERNMENT’S DOUBLE ' FIGHT NAZIS AND SOCIALISTS (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright.) London, June 14. “I am absolutely convinced we can hold back Hitlerism. If I were not we would not attempt it,” said 'Dr Dolfuss, the Austrian Chancellor., in a special interview. “An impressive fact is that the Hitlerite propaganda has awakened a distinctive Austrian national spirit which is developing daily. Recent' anti-Nazi meetings in Vienna have tripled its expectations. Every time the word Austria is mentioned it is received with cheers. The creation of an independent Austria has caused at least 60 per cent, of Austrians to become determined to remain Austrians.

“We are warring with the Nazis on the right and the Socialists on the left, but a middle group and others desiring the maintenance of a capitalistic order are united against both,” said Dr Dolfuss. “I believe Austria can live alone. We have stabilized the currency, balanced the Budget and reduced the unfavourable balance of trade. Although we want to avoid being swallowed by Hitlerism, we are not enemies of Germanism. On the contrary, Vienna was the home of the German emperors when Berlin was a fishing village. We want Austria to exhibit German culture in the best sense and not be a menace but an inspiration.”

Dr Dolfuss thrice conferred with Sir John Simon and M. Daladier this morning, asking the major Powers to use their influence with Germany in connection with the Austro-German crisis. It is understood that Britain and the others have informally approached Germany. Dr Dolfuss immediately after his speech .shot off to Vienna in his own powerful aeroplane. Dr Wasserbaeck, who was arrested by the Nazis in Berlin and later expelled from Germany, has been appointed counsellor to the Austrian Legation in London. The Austrian Press maintains that the cases of Wasserbaeck and Habicht are dissimilar since Austria never officially recognized Habicht, who is continuing to hunger strike. He will not be released till the documents found at his home are examined. The Papal Nuncio in Berlin, as the doyen of the Diplomatic Corps, is protesting to the Government against Dr Wasserbaeck’s arrest in violation of diplomatic ex-territoriality. A report from Vienna states that Herr Habicht, who was Herr Hitler’s chief emissary in Austria, has been released and was escorted by the police to the German frontier. NOT PUBLISHED NEWS OF WASSERBAECK’S ARREST. (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright.) (Rec. 7 p.m.) Berlin, June 15. The German public is still unaware of Dr Wasserbaeck’s arrest. The newspapers were forbidden to publish the news and were ordered to state that Dr Wasserbaeck left Germany in consequence of the disgraceful treatment of Herr Habicht.