The terrific tension under which the Austrian Jerws have been living for the past two weeks was somewhat lightened today when highest officials of the Dollfuss regime, without mentioning the Jews by name gave assurances that the government has no intention of instituting anti-Jewish measures.
In speaking over the radio to the United States, Chancellor Dollfuss declared that the state will fully protect all citizens who are tolerant toward the state. The Chancellor thus publicly dispersed fear current in Jewish circles that anti-Semitic laws may be expected in the near future. He stated categorically that the government is not planning special steps against individual sections of the Austrian population.
A similar attempt at coneiliation was made by Vice Chancellor Emil Fey, when he issued a statement to the foreign press stating, “We are determinged to confront with equal engergy all other groups which attempt force.” Major Fey obviously referred to the Austrian Nazis.
Both speeches, it is thought here, were made out of deference to opinion in foreign countries and convince Jews everywhere that the Dollfuss regime does not intend to differentiate between groups of citizens.
SITUATION STILL TENSE
The situation in Vienna and through the provinces is still uncertain, latest reports showed. In Vienna sporadic outbreaks of shooting and bombings showed that Socialist forces were carrying out party orders to continue resistance and to use sabotage. Five Socialists were bayoneted by Hoimwehr auxiliaries when they were found in a machine gun nest.
Telephone service between Vi- (Continued on Page Eight)
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
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.