A BACKGROUND OF THE WAR

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 183, 30 April 1940, Page 6

A BACKGROUND OF THE WAR

Working For Freedom

SECRET GROUPS IN

AUSTRIA

With, the historic atnl successful example of Masaryk and Benes as an inspiration, representatives of several nations now under the German ”Oke are planning’ for the day when they may achieve independence once again. Masaryk, Benes and their collaborators worked during the last war to bring about an independent Czechoslovakia. Now Benes, undaunted, plans again for the future, and Czech soldiers are in France. Poland has an army in France, and a tiny navy helping the Allies. Less has been heard of any Austrian move for regaining independence, but there is one, and there was recently established in London an office to further that end. Austrian Survey

As Uhe Czechs in their homeland •worked “underground” in the last war, so are bands of Austrians working today. Recently, an Austrian in London has revealed, there has been conducted iu the strictest secrecy, a survey of Austrian opinion. Contact has been established with the secret movements there and a network of communication channels .has been created. The result of the survey shows that, there are two efficiently, organized groups working for Austrian freedom. These people meet regularly and keep their members in constant touch with each other. Social Democrats

One, the Social Democratic group, has “cells” spread all over the country and has organized illegal trade unions powerful enough to cause trouble to the Nazis. Austrian transport workers, tram and bus drivers and conductors, have already clashed openly in Vienna with their Nazi rulers. This Social Democrat group has a Communist Left Wing which favours a Red Greater Germany. Its ranks are said to be thinning daily. The other important group has been called the “Traditional Austria” group, and in its ranks it includes Christian Socialists, members of the Catholic bourgeoisie, peasants and monarchists, the last-named of whom seem to be monarchist in principle without evidencing any great desire for the return of the Habsburgs. Grievances Against Nazis

Each of the component parts of the “Traditional Austria” group have different grievances against, the Nazi regime. The upper classes, it is reported, feel that far too high a proportion of the younger members of their families, regarded by the Nazis as “unreliable," were “killed iu action” in Poland. Similarly all Austrian police officials were sent to Poland, and not one has returned to Austria. The. “Landesschutzen,” a kind of reserve of the over-forties, proud, of their traditions, are disgruntled because they have been used exclusively for the most dirty and humiliating kind of work. The peasants, forced to deliver, the last bean and to cut down their beautiful forests for export to Germany, are definitely hostile to the Nazi regime. These and a good many other things have welded the “traditional Austria” into one firm body spelling danger to the Nazi regime. Eager For Information

All these groups are eagerly lapping up whatever pro-Allied information they are able to get from the outside world. The special broadcasts which the 8.8. C. has been giving for some time are particularly appreciated, since these are proof that the dynamic feeling of being different from the Prussians which permeates the Austrian people is being appreciated by the Allies to its full extent For some time it has been felt that ,his thirst for more and accurate information should be met with the most efficient help from outside. This is perhaps the main purpose behind the Austria Office in London, which was officially opened on the anniversary of Austria’s invasion.

Apart from being a cultural centre, one of the main aims of the Austria Ollice will be to get information out of Austria and to pump accurate proAllied information into Austria. This, perhaps, will prove one of the greatest weapons in Austria’s struggle for her independence. Independence Wanted

Writing to the editor of the “New York Times” last month, Herr Winter, former vice-mayor of Vienna, said that the majority of Austrians at home and abroad stood for self-determination for Austria, aware that it can be reached only by an Allied victory. The three main political groups in Austria, he claimed, would generally agree to the following outline of common goals: Austria as a social and democratic country, oriented toward the Western democracies, France, Great Britain and the United States, her main task the federated union of the South-eastern European nations which should be organized as a regional bloc within the European framework.

"The Austrian problem has to be solved for the sake of the world. It can be solved only by a European concept which guarantees liberty aud independence to the smaller nations, too. protects them against imperialism and backs those energies among them which belong to world civilization. The Austrians, as a nation like the Dutch. Belgians or Swiss, have a right to enjoy this civilization, to which they contributed so much.” Saving Timber

Even broom handles and chair legs have come under the eagle-eyed scrutiny of a British Ministry of Supply committee which has been seeking ways of economizing in timber. Tlie inquiry has revealed some astonishing figures. New methods in the construction of ammunition boxes, for instance, are expected to result in a saving of 30,000 tons of timber in six months. A statement by the chairman of the committee also showed that the Services use a prodigious number of wooden tables, a small reduction in the size of which, when applied to the 1,200,000 tables with which the committee was immediately concerned, meant a saving of thousands of tons of timber. Seats Of The Mighty Even the traditions of the Civil Service have not proved sacrosanct in the face of this economy drive. The most cherished symbols of a civil servant’s seniority have always been the type of table and ehair witli which his ollice is furnished. 'Phis venerable system is now being undermined, and many a civil servant whose rank entitles him to the traditional pedestal desk and chair will: arms Is now working at a humble trestle table, seated on a plain, uncushioned wooden chair.