THE CHINA MAIL, MARCH 10, 1938.
AUSTRIAN
Page
PLEBISCITE
Schuschnigg To "Stand Or Fall" By Result
GERMAN QUARTERS PRINCESSES IVON RIBBENTROP'S
REPORTED NOT ALTOGETHER. PLEASED
LONDON, TO-DAY.
OFFICIAL CIRCLES IN LONDON DECLINE TO COMMENT ON THE AUSTRIAN PLEBISCITE, BUT UNOFFICIAL OBSER- VERS GENERALLY RECOGNISE THE IMPORTANCE OF A FREE PEOPLE BEING ALLOWED TO EXPRESS THEIR OWN VIEWS ON ITS DESTINY IN AN ATMOSPHERE UN- TROUBLED BY MANIFESTATIONS OF DISORDER.
In Berlin, Dr. Schuschnigg's announcement was received with re- serve in German official quarters. A spokesman declared that the attitude of Germany must considerably be influenced by the manner in which Dr. Schuschnigg presents his arguments to justify the plebiscite.
1
"No I must know if the motto. bread and peace at home" can draw our people together, and
The spokesman added that the plebiscite might be interpreted in Berlin as an expression of Aus- tria's desire to assume control of whether the idea of equality is one her national destiny and to emanworth following. cipate herself from all foreign in- tervention--Reuter.
SCHUSCHNIGG'S
STAND
INSSBRUCK, TO-DAY.
THE AUSTRIAN
CHANCEL-
"For this reason I call the nation
to a plebiscite on Sunday."
ROARS OF APPLAUSE
Dr. Schuschnigg, whose speech
was
AT GARDEN PARTY
London, To-day.
The King and Queen enter- Lained 500 guests yesterday afternoon at a garden party.
Queen Mary came over from Marlborough House to attend the function, while as a special con... cession, the two little Princesses were allowed absence from school: for the afternoon-Reuter.
SCORES OF NAZIS INJURED IN CLASHES
ARRIVAL
London, To-day. Fearing a Communist demonstra- tion the police took extraordinary... precautions when Herr Joachim von Ribbentrop, the German Foreign Minister, arrived at Vic- toria Station yesterday.
The platform was cleared of all unauthorised persons.
Among those who greeted the form- er Ambassador in London was the Austrian Minister.
Large crowds watched Herr von Ribbentrop's departure from the station. There were no scenes. Reuter.
independence or ultimate Anschluss with Germany..
"The Berchtesgaden
agreement will be carried out but not an iota more," he exclaimed.. "I do not want Austria to build up the Several hundred Nazis were ar-fatherland idea on a personal basis
Vienna, To-day.
repeatedly punctuated by rested in clashes yesterday in or personal government.
roars of applause, said that threats which police officers drew their
"For years we have been
chal-
and intimidations were not to be sabres and policemen used rubber lenged to hold a plebiscite and now tolerated. He could not demand truncheons.
the moment has come to prove we are ready to make a stand for in- dependence.
his followers to maintain order Clashes also occurred between unless the other side also respect Nazis and Patriotic Youth organi- LOR, DR. KURT VON SCHUS-ed the Berchestagden agreement to sations in Innsbruck and between Nazis and members of the Father CHNIGG, HAS PROCLAIMED A the last letter. PLEBISCITE FOR SUNDAY ON Dr. Schuschnigg concluded: land. Front in Linz, where Nazis THE QUESTION OF APPROVAL appeal to all of goodwill. Vote for OF THE GOVERNMENT'S PRO-unity. Say yes' to Austria." GRAMME FOR THE YEAR.
The Chancellor announcedTM that the year would be a year of labour, and promised a huge programme of public works by which 30,000 peo- ple would be given employment.
Dr. Schuschnigg gave a clear in- dication that he would resign if he did not receive a convincing vote of confidence on Sunday, and, added "I do not want to establish a per- sonal Government.
“I stand or fall by the success of the Austrian people on Sunday.” had arranged meetings to protest CHANCELLOR'S DECISION against fixing a limit to voting in The tone of the speech is inter- Noisy demonstrations in Inns- the plebiscite at 24 years of age, preted to mean that if a substar- bruck followed the speech. Mem-which the Nazis complain, will lose tial majority say "yes", Dr. Schus- bers of the Nationalist Youth them 20,000 votes in Upper Austria chnigg will be in an unassailable moral position to curb the Nazis, forced their way into cafes which alone. are recognised Nazi meeting places, These disturbances are a fore-but if the majority, or even a con- the Austrian National taste of the bitterness with which siderable minority like 40 per Nazis retaliated
the country will be torn on the cent, say "No," he will resign, by
biggest public issue in its history, after which it is not doubted that ja Nazi or semi-Nazi government will be formed to prepare the way
and sang Anthem.
cheering Herr Hitler and singing
German songs.
Police were forced to intervene in several instances where fights broke out.
No street fighting occurred CANNOT BE INTIMIDATED though the streets were full of "Threats which can be connected noisy demonstrators who apparent- with the Berchtesgaden agreemently showed no desire to go home.-- cannot intimidate me.
Trans-Ocean.
"The agreement was in line with cur-policy, and we shall keep it, but
not more.
"I stand or fall by the confession
of faith of the Austrian people on Sunday."-Reuter.
FATE OF AUSTRIA
Vienna, To-day.
Dr. Schuschnigg's announcement of a plebiscite on Sunday is re- garded as an event which will decide the fate of Austria, whether
and independent state.
WHIRLWIND UPSETS THE FRANC
Paris, to-day.
Increasing apprehension in poli--
the country will as 2 free tical circles, attacks in the press on It is expected that both the the Government and the fall of the Nazis and the Schuschnigg party franc, led the Premier, M. Camille will be busy until Sunday ina Chautemps, to make a lengthy campaign to sway votes.-Trans- Ocean.
statement yesterday.
INNSBRUCK SPEECH-
Fall of the franc, he declared, Vienna, To-day, was merely due to a “temporary "The demand for a popular ex-whirlwind" and the Stabilisation pression of opinion on future Aus-Fund afforded complete security trian political policy has been for maintenance of the exchange made again and again.
rate.
""The moment has now come. He said France could not exist "Out with your professions of loyal for long if it had to raise from ty,” declared Chancellor Schus- thirty to 35 milliard francs in loans chnigg in his Innsbruck speech to leaders of the Patriotic Front.
“We wish for bread and peace at home," he declared, "equal rights for all who belong to the people and to the nation.
"Now I must know whether the people of Austria wish a free, so cial Christian and unified father- land.
each year, on which the interest alone constituted a burden of two milliard in the Budget.
He declared the - Government must have the courage to face the problem and take steps to solve it.
INDEPENDENCE OR
ANSCHLUSS
Dr. Schuschnigg's broadcast left for Anschluss with Germany. no doubt that the issue is virtually Reuter."
Since France needed large sums for rearmament he had decided to form an independent account for these expenditures. Trans-Ocean, 1,
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