PROBLEM OF AUSTRIA

Evening Post, Volume CXVII, Issue 73, 27 March 1934, Page 9

PROBLEM OF AUSTRIA

STATEMENT BY DOLLFUSS

Towards the end/ of February the Chancellor of Austria, Dr. Dollfuss, speaking as the guest at luncheon of the ; Anglo-American Press Association of Vienna, said that there was no intention of changing the Republican form of the Austrian State. But ho wished to build a "new Austria."

"The probjem of Austria is not," he ,also declared, "a Central European, but: a general European problem. I therefore ask for the support of Europe."

" His position arid that of the Government, he said, had been much mis understood abroad. But he hoped, now that the smoke of battle had cleared, that foreign opinion would tako a different view, and would not refuse the sympathy which it had formerly expressed for Austria.

Dr. Dollfuss paid an unexpected tribute to the Socialist workers who had opposed Mm, which was in sharp contrast to the usual descriptions of them as rebels, criminals, and, Bolsheviks. Asserting that he had not been opposed by the workers as a whole, but only by, perhaps, not more than 10 per cent, of them, h,e continued:

"And oven of this misled 10 per cent; I would like to say frankly that they showed a fine loyalty to oiie another and to what, from my standpoint, were false ideals.. Thoso men defended themselves so bravely that I am sure it is worth doing everything to try to win their full confidence and,their help in building up a new Austria." The Chancellor nest referred to the •'ultimatum" of Herr . Habicht, the fugitive Nazi leader, offering a truce until February 28J and threatening that the Nazi campaign of violence would .recommence; if-Dr. Dollfuss -did not come to terms with Germany. Dr. Dollfuss said that he could not believe that the threat would really be carried out. "I cannot think,",he added, "that, after the events of last week, anyone would attempt to destroy for a time and it can only be for a time—the peace of this country. Everyone must surely realise that we are prepared- to defend,ourselves to the last." . ■

In reply to questions, tho Chancellor expressed sympathy with a proposal that a small committee of foreign journalists should bo given the opportunity of convincing themselves that notable prisoners of the Government, such as Herr Seitz, ex-Mayor of Vienna, and the Socialists councillors were in good health and not illtreated. .

He declared' several times that the Government realised the necessity of gaining the confidence of the workers for the Heimwehr system. Only with the support of all classes could the Government offer a strong resistance to the Nazis.

I was received this morning, states the Vienna correspondent of the "Daily Telegraph," by the Minister of War General Prince Alois yon SehoenbergHartenstein. He protested against stones of atrocities by the Government forces against Austrian prisoners, and

■ We fought hard, as we had to, but the prisoners after capture were treated humanely. I caw only give you my word of honour that I cannot believe that the Heimwehr would have done such things as are alleged.'.' In regard to. the military measures employed, he pointed out that there were signs of resistance all over Vienna and throughout the province's. "With the troops at our disposal," he added, "we had to act rapidly and sharply. I had no choice but to start shelling the houses. Our men were all exposed in the streets; and the enemy were under cover, so that the employment of artillery against" machine-guns and sniper posts to enable our men to clash for cover was inevitable."