EUROPE STIRRED

Taranaki Daily News, 27 July 1934, Page 5

EUROPE STIRRED

PEACE IN AUSTRIA NEEDED ITALY’S STAND IMPORTANT MILITARY MOVE UNLIKELY' THE ATTITUDE OF GERMANY 11 OUTBREAK SPONTANEOUS ’ ’ By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright. Paris, July 25. The French Government regards the Australian situation as most grave and demanding the greatest vigilance, since a free and peaceful Austria is essential to Europe’s welfare. Italy’s attitude is considered most important. At the Vatican City the Pope was informed of the murder of Dr. Dollfuss and expressed his horror. He denounced the persons who had inspired the murder directly or indirectly as enemies of civilisation. The Pope has sent a message of sympathy to Frau Dollfuss, who is at Riccione. His Holiness nad a great affection for Dr. Dollfuss and warmly supported his efforts to make Austria a Christian corporate State. <e> A Rome message says that though Italy would not tolerate Germany’s annexation of Austria, military action in connection therewith would be unlikely, except by agreement with England and France. At Berlin it is officially declared that the Austrian outbreak is purely spontaneous and not connected with German Nazis. The Austro-German frontier is reported to be closed. Well-informed German circles state that Dr. Dollfuss’ resignation and Herr Rintelen’s appointment were agreed between Herr Hitler and Signor Mussolini at the meeting at Venice in June. The German Minister in Austria has been recalled. The London Daily Mail states that Dr. Shuschnigg, the new Chancellor, is a Monarchist and a prominent member of the Dollfuss Christian Social Party. He was Minister of Justice in the Buresch Cabinet in 1932 and was a member of the Dollfuss Cabinet which succeeded it.

END OF TINY DICTATOR HIS METEORIC CAREER ATTEMPT TO SAVE AUSTRIA Seven years ago, when he was 34, Dr. Enzelbert Dollfuss held a comparatively insignificant post in the Lower Austrian Chamber of Agriculture. Not until 1930, when he was appointed President of the Railways, did he come into the public eye. In the following year he became Minister of Agriculture. Then at the age of 40 Dr. Dollfuss was virtually dictator of Austria, and by his summary treatment of Hitler's Nazis and later of the Socialists he showed that lack of inches did not mean lack of courage. He was only 4ft Ilin tall, with a wide-domed forehead, humorous brown eyes, and tiny hands and feet. In Austria he was known as “Our Little Napoleon” and “Mille Metrenich”—a play on “millimetre” and the name of Metternich, the famous statesman. In Germany they called him “the pocket Hitler.” After the World Conference, said one writer, the Mighty Atom thrust the giants into the shade. While they circled round and about with solemn visages, he smiled and laughed, and looked the most care-free man in the whole universe. HONEST AND TRUTHFUL. There has not been in European affairs for centuries such a bundle of energy, such a simple soul, a man after the heart of Cecil Rhodes—not clever, but wise and honest and truthful. And he came from the people, the peasantry of Lower Austria, who were not allowed on the map while the Hapsburgs held the ill-fated throne of Austria. Starting from the village school, he eventually emerged from the Berlin University with degrees in economics. When the war started he was in Italy, and, after being rejected several times on account of his diminutive stature, he was accepted and served with distinction in a machine-gun company. After the war he organised the Austrian farmers into a Peasants’ League, of which he became secretary. This led to. his appointment as Director of the Agricultural Chamber of Lower Austria. In 1932 he succeeded Dr. Buresch as Chancellor, determined to reform the Austrian Constitution, and, pending this reform, to govern without Parliament. Lately he was a dictator, though he denied the impeachment, insisting that he was only a caretaker. NAZIS OUTMANOEUVRED. He revealed himself as a man whose courage “mounteth with the occasion. ’ With his Nazis, Hitler had been slowly crowding him in Austria, seeking to force a fiscal union which would give Germany an overlordship. The Nazis laughed when he climbed into his powerful high-speed aeroplane and set out for England. They commenced a revolution, and they cheered their own perspicacity. But they were checked; fficy were arrested; they were imprisoned; they were dismayed. The smiling boy, entering London as a conquering hero, was taken to the heart of the World Conference. By his darmg he had girded his country with the bayonets of five continents. Through it all he smiled that happy shy smile of the schoolboy whose innings has been heartily applauded. For he had not changed with the years and honours. He remained a simple soul. In October last year a bullet fired by a Nazi nearly cost him his life, but, undaunted, he continued to lead Austria along the lines he thought were best for the nation. With unwavering hostility to the Nazis he added strenuous resistance to the Socialists, driving them from their strongholds when they challenged the Government. With the aid of the Heimwehr (the Austrian Fascists) he hoped to model a State on Italian Fascist lines, but fate has intervened. Dr. Schuschnigg, the new Austrian Chancellor, joined the Dollfuss Cabinet in Mav 1932. He is a Monarchist and a member of the Christian Social Party. He was a close collaborator with the late Dr. Siepel and was Minister of Justice m the Buresch Cabinet from January to May, 1932.