The failure of the various Austrian Zionist groups to agree on a common program for the forthcoming elections leaves the attitude of Austrian Jewry towards the several political parties exactly where it was before the Zionist conference of yesterday was held. The General Zionists decided not to name their own candidate nor to join an all-Jewish bloc because the chances of success were nil.
The Revisionists, however, voted to support a Zionist candidate. The Radicals abstained from voting and declared they did not recognize the conference’s decision on internal politics so long as the General Zionists participate in the non-Jewish parties such as the Social Democrats or the Heimwehrists. The Radicals proposed a parliamentary list with their leader, Dr. Robert Stricker, as the candidate, and are negotiating with the Revisionists and other Jewish groups for support in order to prove both at home and abroad that the Jews do not identify themselves with the Social Democrats or the Heimwehrists.
CROSS-FIRE SUBJECT OF COMMENT
This cross-fire between which the Jews are caught with anti-Semitism at either side is commented on in the current issues of the two Zionist papers, the Stimme and the Neue Welt. The Zionist organs say that the Heimwehrists identify the Jews with the revolutionary Socialists while the Social Democrats charge that the Jewish capitalists are supporting the Heimwehr.
In the meantime the Jews of Vienna are deeply disquieted at the permission granted by Prince Starhemberg, Heimwehr leader and minister of the interior, to Major Waldemar Pabst, former Heimwehr leader who was exiled by ex-Chancellor Schoeber, to return to Austria. The dictatorial activities of Prince Starhemberg are also causing anxiety in Jewish circles. His confiscation of non-Socialist and conservative newspapers for revealing the political intrigues of Major Pabst is looked upon with concern.
INCREASING DISUNION OF HEIMWEHRISTS
Moderate opinion, however, is finding satisfaction in the increasing disunion among the Heimwehrists themselves, and he growing feeling among the Christian Socialists that they made a mistake in including the Heimwehr in the new government. The nationalist pro-Hitler section of the lower Austrian Heimwehr has seceded from the main organization while the Vienna clerical-monarchist wing has quarreled with Starhemberg.
Starhemberg’s position in the cabinet is also being constantly weakened because although he himself belongs to the nationalist wing he is at the same time in alliance with the clerical party contrary to Hitler’s orders. The Heimwehrists have definitely decided not to enter into any binding engagements with any party, thus affecting adversely the interests of the Christian Socialists who had hoped that the Heimwehrists would not name candidates in districts where the clericals stand for election.
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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.
