The British government has made representations to Austria asking the Dollfuss regime to tread lightly in dealing with the situation that has arisen out of the recent civil war, Sir John Simon, British Foreign Secretary, revealed today in the House of Commons.
Sir John’s statement was made in answer to a question from a member of the House as to whether the Foreign Secretary had made it plain to the Austrian government that “the continuance of the political and financial support given in the past will be contigent on the way in which she treats the working classes in that country.”
Foreign Secretary Simon replied: “The British government has been making representations as to celmency and appeasement in the present situation.”
He then read to the House of Commons the three-power communique in which England, France and Italy stated that they recognized the independence of Austria.
Colonel Josiah Wedgewood, Labor, M.P., asked whether “this agreement was given before the Austrian government perpetrated its massacress or afterward.” He also asked whether the government’s views had been modified as a result of Austrian developments.
Sir John answered that he felt sure it would be recognized “that whether the peace of Europe best can be secured by the disappearance of Austria or not can hardly be said to be changed by the events of the last few days.”
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