Paris Peace Conf. 184.01102/142
Captain Nicholas Roosevelt to Professor A. C. Coolidge 10
Vienna
, February 22,
1919.
Subject: Interview with editor of Arbeiter-Zeitung.
- 1.
- I called last night on Frederick Austerlitz, editor of the Arbeiter-Zeitung. The last time I spoke with him was about a month ago and he then expressed his conviction that Bolshevism was no real danger for German-Austria. He added that if food and raw materials could be obtained the situation would rapidly clear up inasmuch as the feelings of the mass of the working classes in German-Austria were not radically inclined, and that the program of social reforms proposed by the Social Democrat party satisfied the ideas of all except the inconsiderable communist fraction.
- 2.
- Yesterday he took a much more disconsolate view of the situation. In spite of the victory of the Social Democrat party, which he recognized was largely a victory for reform, as opposed to the reactionary forces represented by the old monarchy, the old industrial class, and the militarists, he said that the living conditions had become so much worse in the last few weeks that he feared greatly that it would be impossible to avoid hunger riots. He added that it was still his opinion that Bolshevism, as developed in Russia, was not a danger here, but he said that the increasing number of unemployed, which he now estimated at 120,000, together with the increasing shortage of food and increasing prices, for what little could be obtained, would almost inevitably lead to serious trouble. He said that the one most vital thing for German-Austria at the present moment was the resumption of its industrial life. He claimed that the greater portion of the unemployed were more than willing to work, but that for many of them it was impossible to find any occupation. In consequence he begged that something be done to provide the wherewithal to resume the industrial life of the country. Raw materials, facilitation of transportation and food were indispensable and if these could be obtained things would continue to proceed in orderly fashion. He was afraid that the Italian demand for locomotives would bring about the collapse, as there were already sufficient difficulties in the matter of transportation, and as the government did not have the rolling stock of the whole former Austrian state to draw from, but only of the small portion remaining in the hands of the German-Austrians.
- 3.
- I have followed Austerlitz’s articles in the Arbeiter-Zeitumg during the last five weeks and it strikes me that the man is a sincere believer in the anti-capitalist radical social ideas which he has proclaimed. [Page 260] In talking with him he gives the impression of being well informed and of having a quick grasp of conditions. The change, therefore, from his previous position of polite incredulity that serious trouble was to be anticipated here, to the point of view always insisted upon by the more conservative elements, is significant. While ultra-radical the man is not a revolutionist and the great emphasis that he lays on the imperative need of the immediate resumption of the industrial life in German-Austria is worthy of serious attention.
Nicholas
Roosevelt
- Transmitted to the Commission by Professor Coolidge under covering letter No. 104, February 24; received February 26.↩