State Department Hopeful Vienna Disorders Ended Due to U.S. Intervention

Hope that the action taken by the American Minister to Austria has resulted in the definite cessation of disorders at the University of Vienna is expressed by William R. Castle, Jr., Under Secretary of State, in a letter to Dr. Cyrus Adler, president of the American Jewish Committee. The letter was in response to a request for a confirmation of the recent newspaper reports regarding an attack upon Jewish students at the University in the course of which several American citizens were injured.

Under Secretary Castle’s letter states:

“I have received full telegraphic reports from our Minister in Vienna in regard to these disorders.

“He states that a serious clash between Social-Democrats and National-Socialists occurred in Vienna on Sunday, October 16, which resulted in the death of two National-Socialists and one policeman. On the following day, Jewish students were attacked by National-Socialists at the University and one American Jew, a naturalized citizen of Lithuanian origin, was slightly injured. The American Minister called upon the Austrian Chancellor and requested that he take immediate steps to prevent a recurrence of such incidents. The Chancellor expressed his deepest regret and assured the Minister that appropriate measures would be taken. The University was thereupon closed for a few days. When the University was reopened, further similar disorders occurred and on October 26 three American Jews were slightly injured. The American Minister called again upon the Austrian Chancellor to protest against the renewal of unprovoked attacks upon American citizens. He suggested that if the University authorities cauld not maintain order, the authorities of the State should intervene. The Chancellor again expressed his profound regret and the Rector of the University called at the Legation to assure the Minister that there would be no repetition of such disorders. The University was closed on October 27 for an indefinite period.

“It is evident from the Minister’s report that these disorders grew out of the domestic political controversies in Austria, and that the attacks at the University were not intentionally directed against American citizens. It is, however, the fixed policy of this Government to protect Americans abroad in the pursuit of their legitimate activities, and I hope that the immediate action taken by the American Minister has resulted in the definite cessation of disorders at the University of Vienna of the nature of those in which the four American citizens referred to were injured.”