AUSTRIAN AFFAIRS.

Taihape Daily Times, 23 January 1918, Page 5

AUSTRIAN AFFAIRS.

LABOUR TROUBLES

PARIS, Jan 20

The strike has become general throughout 'Austria. One hundred thousand men have become idle in Vienna. At Neustax a workers’ delegation informed General Stofer that the movement was political and economic, and was especially aimed at the peace demonstrators who fried to wreck the offices of the “Reichspost,” which has always urged on the war against Serbia and contributed to the incitement to a general war.

AUSTRIAN STRIKERS DEMAND

PEACE

BERNE, Jan 21

The Vienna correspondent of the “Munich Nachrichten” states that the Austrian strikers demand firstly that Brest Litovsk negotiations shall lead to immediate and general democratic peace, secondly immediate improvement in the food conditions, thirdly, the introduction of democratic reforms, fourthly, the abolition of military control of industries. The strikes reached a height in Vienna at mid-day on Thursday, when three hundred thousand workers were idle. The police stopped a procession, resulting in rioting, necessitating the closing # of shops. The “Neue Freie Press” states that Austria is the only belligerent where all classes desire peace. Swiss telegrams from Austria show that the disorders were most serious. A marked feature of the demonstrations is hostility to Germany _ The demonstrators in Vienna and Gratz repeatedly cried, “Down with Prussian militarism; long live the Russian revolution and universal peace.” Precautions were adopted in Vienna to keep the demonstrators away from the vicinity of the German Embassy. Vienna messages received in Rome state that the Council of Ministers recognise that it is impossible to solve the population’s food problem without lowing the army’s efficiency. All military factories and workships in Austria and Hungary have been closed, owing to the strikes’

News from Austria shows that the strikes and demonstations are strongly political in character. The food question, though grave, is only secondary. The anti-German feeling is intense since Herr Hoffmann’s annexationist declarations at Brest Litovsk. Russian propaganda is evidently working in Austria. The circulation of the, “Arbeiter Zeitung” has been prohibited outside the country. The latest issue available states that the strikers have formed a permanent committee to deal with the situation. Herr Reuder, a Socialist Deputy, declared that the people were being deceived over the peace negotiations.

The Vienna “Fremdenblatt” semiofficially states that Austria aims at a peace without annexations. . She does not intend to incorporate the occupied districts in the Empire, but will not tolerate Russian revolutionary chaos in the newly-created independent States or permit the Russian revolution to spread to Austria.

STRIVING TO AVERT

WASHINGTON, Jan 21

The United Free Press Association’s correspondent states that a reporr from the Vienna Papal Nuncio declares that all Austro-Hungary is afire Ayith open opposition to Germany. President Wilson’s message is understood to have created Avidespread demands for democratic peace The spreading industrial chaos is also a strong factor. The Kaiser is desperately striving to avert a crisis.

STRIKES EXTENDING,

LEADERS’ ADVICE DISREGARDED

Received 9.10. AMSTERDAM, Janary 22,

Vienna telegrams state that in consequence of the Government’s promise to speed up an honourable general peadeV, food,’ conditions and democratic suffrage, the Austrian strike leaders have recommended immediate resumption, but the workers are disregarding the leaders’ advice, and the strikes are extending.

AUSTRIAN MINISTRY RESIGNS.

AMSTERDAM, January 22

The Austrian strikes are spreading and peace is demanded. The Ministry has resigned.

GERMAN PAPERS SILENT,

AMSTERDAM, Jan. 22. Receievd 11.40. Count von Toggenburg is forming an Austrian Cabinet.

Count Wekerece, the Hungarian Premier, has gone to Vienna on account of the Cabinet’s resignation.

Berlin *pap£rs are sileritj, except “Vorwaerts” which regards the situation with extreme gravity, and opines that Austria is turning against the veiled annexationism of German policy