Britain Expected To Protest To Russia Over Acts In Austria

Wanganui Chronicle, 26 June 1948, Page 5

Britain Expected To Protest To Russia Over Acts In Austria

(Special Correspondent—N.Z.P.A.) Recd 7.10 p.m. London. June 25 It is expected the British representative on the Allied Control Council for Austria, General Galloway, will protest strongly against the Russian action in arresting an Austrian police inspector on the grounds of espionage, Russian threats against Austrian Ministers and officials, and the seizure by Russian police of a prisoner who was being held in custody by the British authorities. The Austrian authorities have already lodged a formal protest against these actions which, it is considered, infringe Austria’s status as a liberated territory- . The diplomatic correspondent of the “Manchester Guardian” says: There seems no obvious reason for the tougher and more bellicose line now being adopted by the Russians in Austria. Austrian political circles do not believe the Russians are preparing rhe ground for a political coup and point out that the Communist force in Austria is weak and quite inadequate to take over control of the country. They claim that, short of armed intervention by the Russians, Austria is quite capable of maintaining her independence and proposes to do so.