BULLYING TACTICS OF NAZIS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIV, Issue 20966, 19 February 1938, Page 11

BULLYING TACTICS OF NAZIS

AUSTRIAN LEADER COWED DESPERATE PLIGHT OF PATRIOTS GERMANY IS SWALLOWING THE COUNTRY United Press Association —By Electric Telegraph—Copyright LONDON, February 18 The Australian Associated Press reports that an authentic account of the interview between Herr Hitler and Dr. Schuschnigg reveals that Herr Hitler shouted and gesticulated, terrifying Dr. Schuschnigg, who every few minutes was confronted by German officials thrusting maps on the table showing where guns were placed on the Austrian frontier. $ Signs of Disapproval The Vienna correspondent of the ‘‘Daily Telegraph” says that patriotic Austrians are realising what they have lost as a result of the meeting between Herr Hitler and Dr. Schuschnigg at Berchtesgaden and are rallying to prevent extension of the diplomatic defeat. They criticise Dr. Schuschnigg for accepting Herr Hitler’s invitation, but they largely blame Captain von Papen. Many temporary* strikes have marked the protest against the admission of Nazis to the Government. Workers and peasants support this attitude. Dr. Schuschnigg’s supporters find no comfort in Mr Eden’s answer In the House of Commons yesterday. They say: “We are lost if England and France are indifferent. Germany is

swallowing our country and we cannot believe that merely in the interests of peace they will let Germany receive the enormous accession of strength that‘Austria could give her. This would seal the fate of Czecho-Slovakia, after which comes Hungary. Surely Great Britain must appreciate the significance of Germany financing the Roumanian Guards and of her tying Jugo-Slavia constantly closer to herself. Bulgaria has long been tied to Germany and Herr Hitler’s declaration to Dr. Schuschnigg means that he is not only the leader of Germany, but of the entire German race in the Balkans, which includes hundreds of thousands of racial Germans who, since Herr Hitler’s accession to power, are the spearhead of the Nazi advance towards Suez.” Workers’ Protests Austrian workers, after conferring on the situation, resolved:—"The workers of Austria declare their passionate determination to defend the freedom, independence and honour of their country and renew their solemn assurance to Dr. Schuschnigg that they are prepared to make every sacrifice to support his work of reconstruction and to guard him against disturbance.”

FEARS OF GERMAN AGGRESSION SMALLER POWERS ALARMED United Press Association—By Electric Telecrnph—Copyright (Received February 18, 11.50 p.m.) LONDON, February 18. Reactions in the smaller European States, from Czecho-Slovakia eastward and southward, all indicate that unless Britain and France make clear that they will offer the strongest resistance to the progressive assimilation of Danubian Europe, under the threat of force, the small States will be compelled to seek understandings with Germany on the best terms obtainable. NAZIS BID FOR CONTROL DRASTIC CHANGES IN AUSTRIA United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph— Copyright BERLIN February 17. Following his meeting with Herr Hitler, Dr. Inquart, Minister for Interior and Security, had a long conversation with Herr Himmler, rnd one of the earliest steps towards the Nazification of Austria is expected to be the incorporation of the illegal Storm Troops within the Austrian Patriotic Front. A Vienna message states that it is believed that Herr Hitler insists on the dismissal of Dr. Kienbock, Governor of the Austrian National Bank, who Is opposed to Austria’s participation in Germany’s four year plan.

EFFECT OF AMNESTY HUNDREDS OF PRISONERS RELEASED United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright (Received February 18. 6.30 p.m.) VIENNA, February 17. Under the amnesty, 510 political prisoners have been released. Each signed a statement promising not to indulge in terrorism.

MUSICIAN’S HOSTILITY WITHDRAWING FROM SALZBURG FESTIVAL United Press Association—ay Electric Telegraph—■ Copyright NEW YORK, February 17. Arturo Toscanini, the famous conductor, who is a known foe of Nazism, has announced that owing to the recent developments in Austria he is withdrawing from the annual Salzburg Music Festival and is changing the allocation of the money from his New York concert which was originally planned to aid the Salzburg Festival theatre. It was revealed that Signor Toscanini received news of the shake-up of the Schuschnigg Government under Nazi pressure with great perturbation and conferred with his friends and associates before the announcement of his decision.