Paris Peace Conf. 184.01102/300
Professor A. C.
Coolidge to the Commission to
Negotiate Peace
No. 185
Vienna, April 3, 1919.
[Received
April 7.]
Sirs: I have the honor to enclose herewith
an interesting report from Captain Koosevelt describing an interview
he had with Chancellor [Page 282]
Renner. It will be noted that the Chancellor’s remarks differ from
other reports one gets from the conservative classes. What he said
at the end may have been intended as a direct threat. There are
rumors abroad of dissension between Messrs. Bauer and Renner. I have
not been back long enough to have any opinion on the subject.
I have [etc.]
[Enclosure]
Captain Nichols
Roosevelt to Professor A.
C. Coolidge
Subject: Interview with Chancellor Renner.
- 1.
- In an interview which I had with the Chancellor Dr. Renner
on April 1st, he stated that the situation was well in hand,
and complete quiet was to be expected unless some unexpected
incident should turn up. The Railroad strike had been
satisfactorily settled, but had almost recommenced when news
was spread at Wiener Neustadt that Allied troops of
occupation were to be brought in. He stated that the
sentiment against military occupation was great, and that
the people in particular felt a fear lest Austria should be
used as a base of operation against Hungary, and might, as
he put it “become another Belgium.” Military occupation
would probably only drive the feeling of the working classes
more in favor of Hungary, and would produce a grave
crisis.
- 2.
- In speaking of Karolyi’s abdication he expressed the
opinion that the revolution in Hungary had come as a
surprise and despite Karolyi’s efforts to withstand it. It
had in no way been premeditated. But he added that as
regards German Austria, it had already been decided that if
the country was dismembered—especially referring to German
Bohemia and German Tyrol—the German Austrian Government
would resign, just as had done the Hungarian Government, and
would turn the Government over to whoever would take it. He
added that this would mean inevitably Bolshevism.
