863.51 Relief Credits/29: Telegram
The Minister in Austria (Washburn) to the Secretary of State
[Received 10:20 a.m.]
10. Reference my telegram 9, February 15, 10 a.m., which was transmitted at the expense of the Austrian Government because of the importance of expediting the matter. The Government is beginning to be criticized sharply by the opposition press. For example, yesterday the Arbeiter Zeitung in a leading article taking as its text Seipel’s visit to Prague (which has no special political significance as there are no Austrian-Czech questions at the moment pressing for solution), states that the Chancellor can talk and travel but that he gets little accomplished. Proposed new loan, among other illustrations, is mentioned as a case in point and emphasis is placed on the difficulties created by the foreign powers. It is now generally known, although no power is specifically mentioned, that the United States is the sole remaining stumbling block to the negotiations and flotation of the loan. As the Chancellor is apprehensive that a government and cabinet crisis may develop if delay is prolonged, he is getting sensitive over the general situation. He fears that the alleged ease with which municipal loan was obtained may be invidiously compared with the difficulties facing the government. Of course it is true that the Federal Government is obliged by treaty to deal with the Powers, but voters are apt to overlook fine political points of this kind. The Chancellor hopes that early congressional action will be deemed to be justified by the information now furnished. Cipher text of this telegram together with a copy of the Legation’s telegram No. 9 is being mailed to London, Paris, and Berne.