DEEP ALARM IN AUSTRIA

Southland Times, Issue 23437, 18 February 1938, Page 5

DEEP ALARM IN AUSTRIA

NON-NAZIS’ FEAR OF GERMAN MOVES..

GOERING TO VISIT VIENNA FOR MILITARY TALKS

(United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright) (Received February 17, 9.40 p.m.) LONDON, February 17.

The Nazis are jubilant, but the momentous news of the measures to placate them has caused the greatest depression among patriotic Austrians. Much alarmed, the Jews and other non-Nazis are not reassured by the hurried departure of the new Home Minister (Dr von Seyse Inquart) for Berlin after several telephonic conversations. It is believed that he has gone to consult Herr Hitler on the methods the Nazis demand in order to implement the agreement. Almost simultaneously it is announced that Field-Marshal Hermann Goering, Herr Hitler’s second-in-command, will visit Vienna in March for discussions with the Austrian Chancellor (Dr Kurt Schuschnigg) about military cooperation between Austria and Germany. Meanwhile there are suggestions of a hitch, as it is understood that the Austrian authorities have not received any indication of a cessation of German military movements. Moreover, many former members of the dissolved semi-military formation are arriving from Germany, presumably to resume their activities. , Dr von Seyse Inquart, formally assuming his portfolio, said: “A German executive has' never failed and never will fail. I expect every man to do his duty in the tradition of the Ger-

man nation and the Austrian FatherTh’e Berlin correspondent of The Daily Telegraph says that in addition to military co-operation Field-Marshal Goering will discuss methods of supplementing political culture with economic accord. German economic experts have already gone to Vienna to discuss a trade pact. Military _ talks will follow, involving ultimately complete German control. Herr Hitler will speak at noon on Sunday; all Germans must listen m. The President of Austria (Herr Wilhelm Miklas) signed the amnesty for political prisoners. GREAT NAZI VICTORY A glance at the new Austrian Government reveals that Herr Hitler’s victory is considerably greater than at first appeared. Publication of full Cabinet shows that there are at least seven Ministers with distinct leanings to the Nazis, all holding important posts. That Herr Hitler has triumphed is the general impression of political circles. Observers fear that Austria is heading toward totalitarianism with all its implication in domestic and international affairs, and that Germany’s longsought desire for the consummation of an economic union is brought materially closer. The Vienna correspondent of The Times gives the Cabinet as follows:— Chancellor: DR SCHUSCHNIGG. Vice-Chancellor: GENERAL VON HULGERTH. _ Foreign Minister: DR GUIDO SCHMIDT. Minister of the Interior and Minister of Security: DR VON SEYSE INQUART. Minister of Justice: PROFESSOR ADAMOVIC. Minister of Education: HERR PERNTER. Minister of Social Welfare: HERR RESCH. Minister of Commerce: HERR RAAB. Minister of Finance: HERR NEUMAYER. Minister of Agriculture: HERR MANNDORFER.

Ministers without portfolios: HERREN GLAISEHORSTENAU, ZERNATTO AND ROTT.

Secretary of Defence: GENERAL ZEHNER. Secretary of Posts: HERR MACSCHNIGG.

Secretary of Workmen’s Protection: HERR WATVEK.

Secretary of Commerce: HERR STEPSKIDOLIWA. Secretary of Security. HERR SHUBL. Herr Shubl was hitherto Director of Security and is now the subordinate of Dr von Seyse Inquart with the designation of Inspector-General of the Police and Gendarmerie. The pro-German Dr Schmidt now wields the Foreign Affairs portfolio freed from the control of Dr Schuschnigg, who hitherto combined the portfolio with the chancellorship. Thus the appointments of Dr von Seyse Inquart and Dr Schmidt somewhat weaken the Chancellor’s position. SCHUSCHNIGG’S FUTURE The British United Press correspondent at Vienna says that Dr Schuschnigg is not expected to remain long in office. It is suggested that after the changes are completed he will retire and allow someone more favourable to the Austro-German “deal” to take control. Paradoxically, Dr Schuschnigg, whose life’s ambition has been the restoration of the Habsburg dynasty, has been forced by circumstances to accept an agreement excluding the possibility of restoration for years. It is believed that Dr Schuschnigg agreed to the changes, of which he disapproved, in order to avoid disorders arising from the sudien resignation which he contemplated. It is believed that the amnesty affects about 4000, some of the sentences extending to 1941. A radio broadcast

from Vienna gave the information that the amnesty would cover Socialists and Communists in addition to Nazis. As a result of the agreement half of the 150 Austrian army officers previously dismissed because of Nazi activities will be reinstated. The remainder will receive full pensions as also will the civil servants dismissed in 1932, but none of the latter will be reinstated. It is understood that the amnesty includes Dr Anton Rintelen, the former Minister to Rome, who participated in the uprising of July 1934, other Nazis connected with the uprising and murders and the engineer, Woitsche, who was tried for plotting the bombing of Dr Schuschnigg’s car in 1936.