Noweditorial Notes

THE BRINISH, French and Italian governments have issued a communique to the effect that these three powers are agreed on a common view as to the necessity of maintaining Austraia’s independence and intergrityb in accordance with the existing treaties. This joint declaration, while not directed to Germany, is a warning to Hider to keep his Nazi hands off Austrai. Herler has accomplished for the isolation of Germany what none of her external enemies could have done. By his attempts to Nazify Austria he created a situation in which his political godfather, Mussolini, has found himself complled to join with the French and the British to prevent Nazi control of Austria.

But now that Hitler’s Germany has been warned against undertaking measures intedded to upset the present status of Austria, the government of Austria should also be made to understand that it will be expected to keep its hands off the racial, religious and other minorites and that if Austria’s Independence is to be guaranteed by the other powers, Austria must fulfill ber own obligation with regard to the proteetion of the rights of the minorties, in aecordance with Article 62 of the Treaty of St. Germain.

The announcement made by the Dollfuss government that Austria is to be reconstituted as a ”BGerman Christian corporate State” has given cause for alarm among the jews of Austria, for it is construed as a declaration of policy under which the population is the be divided into various categories. and the Jews may be subjected to officail discreimination, despite the unofficial assuraces that the new German Christian Corporate state will not affect6 their rights.

To regain the sympathy of the world, little Austria should now give slolemn assurances that she wil not resort to Hitlerist methods in her tratment of the mino rities within he borders. For the sake of world peace, both Hiler and dollfuss must be made to realize that they will have to pursue a policy of ”Hends off!”