Austria Moves to Suppress Nazis, Party and Insignia

The Austrian Government will prohibit the Nazi Party in Austria and suppress the Nazi press the middle of this month following the return of Chancellor Engelbert Dollfuss from a visit to Rome, Vienna Labor papers report today. The report thus far has not been denied in Government quarters.

The action of the Government is due to the continuous anti-Government fight of the Nazis, particularly in West Austria, where disturbances are occurring daily. The report that this drastic step will be taken follows closely on the revelation that the Nazis had negotiated vainly with Chancellor Dollfuss in an attempt to form a coalition government.

It was learned today that the Government is planning to shut down for six months all the universities if the rectors and professors continue to oppose the Government policy of abrogating university autonomy in order to prevent student riots.

It is generally feared that suppression of the Nazis will result in an outbreak of disturbances. This fear is causing considerable anxiety among the Jewish population.

The state police today issued an order prohibiting the wearing of uniforms or parts of uniforms by members of the Hagana, the Jewish self-defense corps. This prohibition was issued on the grounds that a Government order against the wearing of Socialist and Nazi uniforms permitted uniforms only for self-defense detachments pledged to support the Government.

Much resentment is felt at this order since the Hagana is an impartial self-defense organization supporting the Dollfuss Government. The ban, it is felt, is in contradiction with the Chancellor’s assurance of equality of treatment for all devoted Austrian citizens. Why the Jewish organization should be reduced to a position where it does not apparently hold the confidence of the Government is puzzling the Jewish population.