Austrian Anti-jewish Laws Reported Imminent; Nazis Demonstrate After Hitler Speech

Rumors of impending anti-Jewish legislation gained strength tonight, despite official assurances to the contrary, as Nazis demonstrated in the streets following Chancellor Hitler’s address to the Reichstag in Berlin.

(In his address, Hitler warned of war unless the 10,000,000 Germans in the two neighboring countries (Austria and Czechoslovakia) were joined with the Reich. He also threatened reprisals against nations whose press attacked Germany, and made a vigorous demand for colonies.)

Demonstrations on Vienna’s main street, the Ringstrasse, which lasted into the evening, followed the broadcast of Hitler’s speech. Police did not interfere with the manifestations. No anti-Jewish incidents were reported.

It was strongly rumored that legislation had already been prepared to deprive Jews naturalized after the war of their citizenships and to eliminate Jewish journalists from the Austrian press.

The rumors were current despite official assurances that had been given to the Jews to the effect that no anti-Jewish restrictions were planned. (The Associated Press said Chancellor Kurt Schuschnigg received a deputation of Jewish industrialists and told them they had nothing to fear from Nazi influence in his government, that the Jews could face the future with complete confidence.)

Informed circles said an official Government statement on the future of Jews in Austria would be issued this week. The conviction that Jewish rights would be safeguarded was affirmed yesterday by Government Councillor Herman Oppenheim, president of the Union of Austrian Jews, who voiced the belief that in the sphere of legislation no change in the position of Jews as citizens enjoying equal rights was to be expected in the near future.

There is no ground for panic as a result of current developments, the Jewish Telegraphic Agency was told yesterday by State Councillor Desider Friedman, president of the Austrian Zionist Organization and former president of the Vienna Jewish Community.

Dr. Friedman declared that according to the most reliable information the Government was absolutely determined not to tolerate breaches in the May Constitution guarantee- ing equality of rights to all citizens without distinction as to religion. He added that modification of the legal system in conformity with German Nazi laws is not contemplated and that reports on revision of citizenships are absolutely baseless.

That Nazi influence has become stronger than any other, including Monarchist and Catholic, in Austria’s internal affairs must be concluded from the official statement published simultaneously Friday night in Berlin and Vienna on admission of Nazis to the Fatherland Front.

The conclusion must be drawn from the fact that for the first time in the history of the new Austria an official document speaks of recognition not of former members of a certain party, but simply of National Socialists as such. This means that Nazis entering the Fatherland Front will not have to give up any ideals and will be permitted to be active in every direction, provided they respect the principles of the Constitution and do not work against Austria’s independence.

Scope of the Constitution, however, is sufficiently broad to give room for all kinds of racial, anti-Jewish conceptions without formally altering the basic law on equal rights of citizens. The Government protects itself against excessive Nazi propaganda, which many endanger existence of the State by stipulating that elements carrying on such propaganda may be expelled. It is highly improbable, however, that this sanction will be applied if the propaganda is directed, not against Austrian independence but against status of the Jews.

Meanwhile, the situation of 20,000 Jews residing in the provinces seems definitely to have taken a turn for the worse, according to reports from reliable private sources. Uncertainty on future developments is inducing local Fatherland Front leaders as well as State officials, especially in districts bordering on Germany, to fraternize with Nazis to show them that they are equally nationalistic. This, of course, makes for almost complete social and economic isolation of the provincial Jews.