Austria today decided to appeal to the League of nations and to the nations of the world for action to bring to an end the persistent acts of aggression aiming at the overthrow of the gobernment and the submersion of the Austrian Reich into a province of Germany.
The Dollfuss cabinet, meeting here today, voted to empower Chancellor Engelbert Dollfuss to present the situation resulting from continued anti-government activities inspired by Germany to the League and to appeal to the international body to take steps necessary to protect the independence of Austria and halt the activities of Germany in the internal affairs of this country.
The appeal to the League was voted after a lengthy discussion by the cabinet of developments in the past few weeks, including Hetler’s refusal to accede to Austrian demands that Germandy cease supporting Austrian Nazi agitators and his veiled threat that National Socialism would inevitably sweep Austria.
THREATS FROM HEIMWEHR
The Dollfuss regime, badly battered in recent weeks by the incessant Nazi attacks and defections in the ranks of its supporters, wa threatened from another quarter today as leaders of the Heimwehr, the Fascist home guard, on whom the Dollfuss government relies mainlyl, openly defied {SPAN}{/SPAN} government and established Fascist rule in the Tyrol. Chancellor Dollfuss’ hold on the Weimwehr has been weakening {SPAN}{/SPAN} in past weeks as that organization, determined on establishing a non-Nazi Fascist rule, evidenced growing impatience with the chancellor for continuing his close relations with his Christian Social party.
Prince Ernst von Starhemberg, Heimwehr leader, today replaced the duly elected provincial government at Innsbruck by a commission composed of Heimwehr men and their allies, the Peasant league and the Catholic Storm Troops.
The action today followed a sensational speech by von Starhemberg at Innsbruck last night in which he served notice o Austria’s diminutive chancellor that Dollfuss could not count longer on Heimwehr support in his fight against Hitlerism as long as he continued to have anything to do the political parties.
Help ensure Jewish news remains accessible to all. Your donation to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency powers the trusted journalism that has connected Jewish communities worldwide for more than 100 years. With your help, JTA can continue to deliver vital news and insights. Donate today.
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.
