Increased impetus to the anti-Semitic movement in Austria as one of the results of inclusion of Nazis in the patriotic Fatherland Front was expected today. It was also feared that Dr. Arthur Seyss-Inquart, the pro-Nazi who was appointed Minister of Interior on Chancellor Hitler’s demand, might utilize his position to institute an anti-Jewish program. He has an anti-Semitic record, particularly in the Phoenix Insurance Company case.
The anti-Jewish measures which it was feared he might carry out are:
1– Revision of post-war Jewish naturalizations;
2– Cancellation of residential permits for many Jews;
3– Furtherance, directly and indirectly, of the numerus clausus in the professions.
It is feared here that the Constitution will be modified before Summer, affecting Jewish rights.
It is pointed out that the Fatherland Front, which has a million members, is now open to Nazis and will be flooded by a half million new members who previously were active in Nazi sub-rosa organizations. They may now continue their anti-Semitic activities within the Fatherland Front.
Another result of the increased German influence in Austrian affairs to be expected is the intensification of activities of the Antisemiten Bund, which hitherto has been officially closed to Nazis. Nazis are now permitted to join the organization, and are expected to do so in large numbers, since the anti-Semitic organization furnishes a legal instrument by which Nazi ant-Jewish propaganda can be conducted.
In the Cabinet shake-up, in addition to the appointment of Dr. Seyss-Inquart as Minister of Interior and Public Security, the anti-Semitic Monarchist, Prof. Ludwig Adamovich, was given the post of Minister of Justice. These appointments are partly offset, so far as the Jews are concerned, by nomination of Field Marshal Ludwig Huelgerth, former Heimwehr leader, as Vice-Premier, and the promotion of the Fatherland Front leader, Dr. Guido Zernatto, to Cabinet rank. Two laborites, Hans Rott and Adolf Watzek, were included as Ministers Without Portfolio.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
