Austrian Socialist Chief Says Rich Jews of Austria Prefer Protection of Class to Race

That the Jewish bankers and big industrialists in Austria seem to prefer the protection of their class rather than their race, for they do not hesitate to give their financial support to the obviously anti-Semitic Austrian-Fascist organization, “Heimwehr,” was the statement made by Dr. Robert Danneberg, president of the Viennese Landtag, to a representative of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency, after his arrival in this country.

Dr. Danneberg, who is himself a Jew, is here with a party of 89 Socialists composed of political leaders, educators and trade unionists to study the political and educational development of the U. S.

“Although political and social anti-Semitism has lessened of late in Austria, there is still a great anti-Jewish feeling in the economic world, thus adding to the economic sufferings of a great number of Jewish employees who are victims of the economic crisis in the country,” declared Dr. Danneberg.

To the question as to whether there is any acute danger of Fascist dictatorship in Austria which should cause fear among the Jewish population, Dr. Danneberg stated that there is no such immediate danger.

“As a matter of fact we Socialists expect that in the next elections, which will take place in the Spring, the Social-Democratic party, which now has only two deputies less than the Christian-Social, which is Fascistic, will come out victorious, although not strong enough to take over the power of the country.”

The 200,000 Jews living in Vienna consist mostly of office employees and small tradesmen, he said. They are largely followers of the Social-Democrat party, but only the few great Jewish industrialists and bankers, who are members of the Industrial Association, are supporting the Fascist anti-Semitic “Heimwehr” organization, except that they are more opposed to Socialism than they are to anti-Semitism, he pointed out.