AUSTRIAN ANSCHLUSS

Chronicle (Levin), 11 June 1946, Page 5

AUSTRIAN ANSCHLUSS

Press Assn

Seyss-Inquarl's Defence NEVER PiAYED D0UBLE G'AME

Bv Teleciravh

.-Covvrighi

Received Tuesday, 11.30 a.m. N JKEMJtsNKG, June 10. Beginning iiis aeience beiore fhe War orimes Tribunai, Artiiur deyssmquart, Minister of the Interior in or. bcnuscnmggs uabmec ana chancellor after ihe German occupation of Austria, said he had never piayed a douoie game. " I only joined the Austrian Nazi party in Aebruary, lyab, so that the accusation that I pfayed a aouole game io compiereiy uncrue," he aaded. Seyss-lnquart said that he, like other Ausurians, were convmced chao Austria's only chance of survival fav in the anschluss with Germany. He nad a tane with Hitler j at Berchtesgaden after he joined i JDr. bcnuscniiigg's Caomet. He foid Hitler that Ausu'ian ideals must be mainiained as a prerequisn-e of a peaceiul union witn Germany. Hitler agreed, and said tne fuihiment oi tne Nazi programme tnere snould remain a seconaary consideration, , but after the Wehrmacht marched j into Austria Hitler, reiegatmg I beyss-Inquan, changed his attitude. On the eve of tne anscniuss ne teiepnoned Hitler and Goering, appealmg to tnem not tu sena tne Crerman troops into Austria, and in a finai appeal for a delay until a plebiscite | 'was taken he teiephoned Hitler at Lmz, tne ooraer city tnrougn which the Wehrmacht marched in. It was then too late. The march had begun. He aid, however, obtain permission from Hitler for the Austrian ! truops to marcn into Germany to mahitahi a symbolic equahty, and Austrian troops entered Municfi and n»eixin smmitaneousiy with the German entry into Vienna. j Continuing Seyss-lnquart said he appeaiea to Hitler to aiiow him to leave politics, but insteaa Hitler made him Governor of Austria — a position ne did not want.